SIMCOE'S MILITARY JOURNAL. 



A HISTORY OF THE OPERATIONS 

OF A 

PARTISAN CORPS, 

CALLED 

THE QUEEN'S RANGEBS, 

COMMANDED BY 

LIEUT. COL. jH^MCOE, 

DURING THE WAR OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION; 

ILLUSTRATED BY TEN ENGRAVED PLANS OF ACTIONS, &C. 

NOW FIRST PUBLISHED, 

WITH 

A MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR 

AND 

OTHER ADDITIONS. 



NEW- YORK: 
BARTLETT & WELFORD 

1844. 



E 



s?77 
.4 






[Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1843, by Bartlett & 
Welford, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of 
New- York. 



In Exchange 
Univ. of North Caroliaa 
JAN Si 1934 



WILLIAM VAN NORDEN, PRINT. 

49 Liberty-st., New York. 






PREFACE 



The military journal of Lt. Col. Simcoe, now first 
published, was privately printed by the author in 1787, 
for distribution among a few of his personal friends. 
The production has hitherto, it would seem, entirely 
escaped the attention of those who are curious in the 
history of our Revolutionary War. As a record of 
some interesting particulars and local occurrences of 
that memorable struggle, and as a well written docu- 
mentary illustration of the times and the circumstan- 
ces of the American Rebellion, it deserves circulation 
and favour. The fortunate procurement of a copy of 
the work in London enables the publishers to present 
it in an edition securing its preservation and facilita- 
ting a general knowledge of its contents. 

A memoir of so much of the author's life as is not 
exhibited in his journal, it is thought, will interest the 
reader and increase the permanent value of the vol- 
ume. Accordingly such a memoir has been prepared 
from available and authentic materials, and, by way of 



IV PREFACE. 

introduction, may serve to fill out the history of the 
commander of the Queen's Rangers, presenting also a 
few facts concerning the corps not otherwise appear- 
ing. Not to extend that portion of the publication too 
far, however, various relevant quotations from differ- 
ent sources, interesting essentially, and expletive in 
their character, are thrown into the appendix in ad- 
dition to what the journalist has given in that form 
himself. 

New York, December, 1843. 



MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. 



In the church of St. Andrew, town of Cotterstock, North- 
amptonshire, England, is erected a white marble monument 
bearing this epitaph : — 

" To the memory of John Simcoe, Esq., late commander 
of his Majesty's ship Pembroke, who died in the royal ser- 
vice, upon the important expedition against Quebec, in 
North America, in the year 1759, aged 45 years. He spent 
the greatest part of his life in the service of his king and 
country, preferring the good of both to all private views. 
He was an officer esteemed for his great abilities in naval 
and military affairs, of unquestioned bravery, and unweari- 
ed diligence. He was an indulgent husband, a tender pa- 
rent, and sincere friend ; generous, humane and benevolent 
to all ; so that his loss to the public, as well as to his friends, 
cannot be too much regretted. This monument was, in 
honour to his memory, erected by his disconsolate wife, 
Catharine Simcoe, 1760." 

Captain Simcoe, of the navy, was a native of Northamp- 
tonshire, and, after a life most honourably employed in the 
service of his country, closed his career in the profession 
which seemed to promise him much renown and advance- 
ment, leaving a widow and two infant sons, the eldest of 
whom was John Graves Simcoe, the subject of this memoir, 
then about seven years of age. 

Though bred in the navy, and highly esteemed as an ex- 
cellent officer, Captain Simcoe was peculiarly partial to the 
military service, and is said to have left behind him a valu- 
able treatise on tactics in that profession. The most striking 

A 



VI MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. 

occurrence of his life arose however, it is said, from an acci- 
dent, improved in a manner peculiar to genius and extensive 
professional knowledge. The story is that he was taken 
prisoner by the French, in America, and carried up the river 
St. Lawrence. As his character was little known, he was 
watched only to prevent his escape ; but, from his observa- 
tions in the voyage to Quebec, and the little incidental infor- 
mation he was able to obtain, he constructed a chart of that 
river, and carried up General Wolfe to his famous attack 
upon the Canadian capital. He was promoted to a cap- 
taincy in 1743,* at the age of twenty-nine. Upon the trial 
of Admiral Byng in 1756-7, he served as a member of the 
court martial convened for that purpose,! an d was then 
aged forty-two years. 

The widowed mother with her two sons, soon after their 
father's death, removed to Exeter, and our author received 
the first part of his education at the free grammar school of 
that town. His younger brother was unfortunately drowned 
in his childhood. The earliest years of the young soldier 
were rather solid than brilliant, though he possessed both 
spirit and emulation, and was in the foremost rank among 
his fellows. But though a school-boy, his acquisitions in 
some departments of knowledge were of a superior kind. 
At an early age he had read Homer in Pope's translation ; 
and in his boyish days acted with his companions the scenes 
of the Illiad. He was not slightly versed in modern history, 
and already devoured with eagerness every tale of war. At 
about the age of fourteen, he was removed to Eton school, 
and from thence in due course to Merton College, Oxford. 

But the military ardour of young Simcoe, which so early 
sparkled, soon blew into a flame, and, at the age of nineteen, 
he obtained an ensign's commission in the 35th regiment, an 
event probably hastened by the impending hostilities with 



* Charnock's Biographia Navalis, Vol. 5. 

t Ibidem, and Beatson's Naval and Military Memoirs, Vol. 3. 



MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. Vll 

America. He did not embark from England with his regi- 
ment, but he landed at Boston on the memorable day of the 
battle of Bunker's Hill. He soon afterwards acted as adju- 
tant of the 35th regiment, but it does not appear that he 
ever was actually appointed to this office ; and at no distant 
period purchased command of a company in the 40th, which 
he led at the battle of Brandywine, where he was wounded. 
Captain Simcoe was always a soldier in his heart, and 
attentive to every part of his duty. He already saw that 
regularity in the interior economy of a soldier's life contri- 
buted to his health, and estimated the attention of the infe- 
rior officers by the strength of a company or a regiment in 
the field. His ambition invariably led him to aspire at com- 
mand; and even when the army first landed at Staten 
Island he went to New York to request the command of the 
Queen's Rangers, a provincial corps then newly raised, 
which he did not finally obtain until after the battle of Bran- 
dywine, in October, 1777. He knew that common opinion 
had imprinted on the partisan the most dishonourable stain, 
and associated the idea with that of dishonesty, rapine, and 
falsehood. Yet, on the other hand, he also knew that the 
command of a light corps had been considered as the best 
source of instruction, as a means of acquiring a habit of 
self-dependence for resources, and of prompt decision so pe- 
culiarly requisite in trusts of importance. 

The corps of Rangers claimed all the attention of the now 
Major-commandant Simcoe, and contributed greatly to less- 
en his paternal fortune, for though warmly alive to the in- 
terests of others, he was always inattentive to his own. We 
find in Rivington's Royal Gazette, printed at New York dur- 
ing the presence of the British army in the city, an adver- 
tisement for recruits somewhat significant of the care and 
expense bestowed upon the equipment of this effective band 
of partisans. It is as follows : — 



Vlll MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. 

"ALL ASPIRING HEROES 
Have now an opportunity of distinguishing themselves by- 
joining 
THE QUEEN'S RANGER HUZZARS, 
Commanded by 
Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe. 
Any spirited young man will receive every encourage- 
ment, be immediately mounted on an elegant horse, and fur- 
nished with clothing, accoutrements, &c, to the amount of 
forty guineas, by applying to Cornet Spencer, at his quar- 
ters, No. 1033 Water street, or his rendezvous, Hewitt's 
Tavern, near the Coffee House, and the defeat at Brandy- 
wine, on Golden Hill. 

[O 3 Whoever brings a Recruit shall instantly receive 
TWO GUINEAS. 

Vivant Rex et Regina." 

The Rangers were disciplined, not for parade, but for ac- 
tive service. They were never to march in slow time ; were 
directed to fire with precision and steadiness ; to wield the 
bayonet with force and effect ; to disperse and rally with 
rapidity. In short, in the instructions for the management 
of the corps, its commander seems to have anticipated the 
more modern tactics of the French army . 

The deeds and adventures of Colonel Simcoe and his 
Rangers during the War of Independence, need not be told 
here : his journal of their campaigns is before the reader — 
" written," it is said, " with the simplicity of Caesar and Xen- 
ophon." Being stationed with his corps at Gloucester Point, 
opposite York Town, when the latter place was beseiged by 
the allied French and American forces, the Queen's Rangers 
and their commander were included in the surrender of the 
army of Cornwallis. Colonel Simcoe, in ill health, equally 
the result of excessive fatigue from his arduous services, 
and of vexation at the inglorious fate of his cherished sol- 
diers, was sent away in the Bonetta sloop of war, which, by 



MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. IX 

an article of the capitulation the British reserved to trans- 
port their sick and disabled to New York city, to be exchang- 
ed as prisoners of war. The famed Queen's Rangers were 
never, as their enthusiastic leader had fondly hoped, re-as- 
sembled under his command. The officers of the corps were 
afterwards put on the half-pay list, and their provincial rank 
was made permanent in the regular British army. 

The capture at York Town being essentially an end of the 
war, Colonel Simcoe returned to England greatly exhausted, 
and his constitution considerably impaired. He was receiv- 
ed with the most gracious attention by the King, by his 
friends with the most ardent affection, by the companions of 
his toils and dangers with the sincerest congratulation. The 
services he had performed being not unknown to his Sove- 
reign he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel commandant to a 
corps to be raised in Canada, to which he gave the name of 
the Queen's Rangers. 

The profession of a high principle of soldierly honour, of 
ardent attachment to military life, and the claim of credit 
for his Rangers, which occur in the Journal of the brave 
Simcoe, may be considered fully warrantable. Stedman, a 
British historian of the War of Independence, who himself 
served during its campaigns, makes frequent and honoura- 
ble mention of the corps and its commander.* Tarleton, 
who was engaged in the same kind of service, mostly in the 
southern department, corroborates whatever of Simcoe's 
narrative comes within the scope of his own historyf of the 
1 British Legion' which he commanded. Sir Henry Clinton's 
letter to Lord George Germaine may be quoted as sufficient 
authority for the value attached to his services by his supe- 
riors in rank : 

" Lieut. Col. Simcoe has been at the head of a battalion 
since October, 1777 ; and since that time has been the per- 

* History of the American War, 2 Vols. 4to. London, 1794. 
t History of the Campaigns of 1780 and 1781, in the Southern Provinces, &c, 4to' 
London, 1787. 



X MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. 

petual advance of the army. The history of the corps un- 
der his command is a series of gallant, skilful, and success- 
ful enterprises against the enemy, without a single reverse. 
The Queen's Rangers have killed or taken twice their own 
numbers. Col. Simcoe himself has been thrice wounded ; 
and I do not scruple to assert, that his successes have been 
no less the fruit of the most extensive knowledge of his pro- 
fession which study and the experience within his reach 
could give him, than of the most watchful attention and 
shining courage. 

" Charleston, South Carolina, May 13th, 1780." 

The leisure of the camp and of winter quarters was by 
Col. Simcoe filled up with study. Tacitus and Xenophon 
were his chief companions, and military history claimed a 
considerable portion of his attention. Few retired scholars 
read more than the officer on the alert in the advance of the 
army ; and very few read to a better purpose. He saw 
with clearness, and comprehended with accuracy, every 
subject in all its varied bearings, and in its most extended 
relations. His daily improvements must of consequence 
have been considerable ; and though his own profession 
attracted his principal attention there were few subjects of 
science not familiar to him. 

A life of tranquillity restored the soldier's mind to its for- 
mer tone, and his constitution to a state of health, which, if 
not perfect, was apparently so. Not long after retiring from 
active service he married a Miss Guillim, a near relation of 
the lady of Admiral Graves, who had commanded at Bos- 
ton, and who was a distant relation of his own. He was, 
in 1790, elected a member of Parliament to represent the 
borough of St. Maws', Cornwall,* and his name appears in 
the debates on the bill by which the province of Quebec was 



The Senator ; or Clarendon's Parliamentary Chronicle, Vol. I. 



MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. XI 

divided into Upper and Lower Canada, and each of them 
placed under the superintendence of a lieutenant-governor, 
subject to the authority of the governor-general of British 
America. Col. Simcoe was appointed lieutenant-governor 
of Upper Canada, and on his arrival with his family in 
the province had the country accurately surveyed, and 
then formed his plans for peopling and improving it. He 
first thought of placing the centre of his settlements within 
the land enclosed by the lakes Ontario, Erie, and Huron, 
and the Detroit river ; but as the Niagara was to be given 
up to the United States, he altered his plan. York, on the 
north-west side of Lake Ontario, had been before determin- 
ed on for the capital, but Governor Simcoe, not approving of 
that plan, intended to fix it on the banks of the river Thames, 
between Huron and Ontario. This was also dropped, and 
York (now Toronto) was made the seat of government. To 
increase the population was the great and favourite scheme 
of the new governor, and as he had the allotment of lands 
vested in him, he was enabled to promote this desirable and 
useful measure. The families of American officers and sol- 
diers who adhered to the royal cause at the conclusion of 
the war, obtained grants on the British side of the bounda- 
ry line, as well as many officers and soldiers of the regular 
forces. The policy of Governor Simcoe was to draw as 
many emigrants from the American states as he could, and 
by means of his mild and disinterested government, to pro- 
mote a love for the national character of Englishmen in 
those states. To half-pay officers he held out a share of 
these lands, and he also granted discharges to soldiers serv- 
ing in the regiments then in Canada, who had been a cer- 
tain number of years in the country, and allotted settle 
ments to them. In the mean time, that the forces might 
not be incomplete, he proposed enlisting Americans whom 
he expected to become soon attached to the service. These 
military settlers he intended to occupy the lands on the 
frontiers towards the states, and on the banks of the lakes. 



Xll MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. 

The inland parts he set aside for those who had emigrated, 
and, in case of their not being zealously attached to the ex- 
isting government, the military settlers, from their situation, 
were to act with vigour against them, or in the event of a 
war with America, which would be contrary to the interest 
of both nations, defend the frontiers. A militia formed of 
such settlers might, he thought, in those instances, prove 
nearly as useful as a regular corps. In pursuance of these 
plans, Col. Simcoe, on all occasions, gave encouragement 
and assistance to those who applied for lands, or who were 
already in possession of them. The whole of his conduct, 
during the time he enjoyed the government of Upper Cana- 
da, was honourable, liberal, and admirably calculated to 
lay the foundation of private and public prosperity. After 
remaining five years in this settlement, Governor Simcoe 
returned to England, to the great regret of all the inhabit- 
ants, who appreciated his many public and private virtues. 
Governor Simcoe has been charged with unworthy acts 
towards his American neighbours of the United States. In- 
stigating the savages to hostilities upon our frontiers, that 
our government might be harrassed with Indian wars ; abet- 
ting the natives in their claim to territory west and north of 
the Ohio River ; disposing of his military forces, and ar- 
ranging other matters upon the borders of his province with 
a direct view to a breach of peace between his nation and 
the American states, are alleged to have been practices pur- 
sued in a manner confirming the stories of his hatred to- 
wards the "Yankees," and his desire to repay them for 
their unpardoned offence of having recently achieved their 
independence as a people. Naturally some prejudice would 
be indulged in by Governor Simcoe towards those with 
whom he had been actively at war in a civil contest. The 
cause for such feeling, or proof that it was shown in impro- 
per words and acts, need not now be sought. The Gover- 
nor's kindness and hospitality to some of our official agents, 
while in his province, it is pleasing to find recorded in the 



MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. Xlll 

private journal of General Lincoln,* kept by him when des- 
patched as one of the Commissioners of the United States 
to treat with the Indians in 1793. The following passages 
are, at this day, somewhat curious and interesting : — 

" May 25. — Immediately on my arrival at Niagara, Gov- 
ernor Simcoe sent for me ; the other Commissioners were 
with him ; he showed me my room. We remained with 
him a number of days ; but knowing that we occupied a 
large proportion of his house, and that Mrs. Simcoe was 
absent, and so probably on our account, we contemplated 
a removal, and of encamping at the landing, six miles from 
this place. But when the Governor was informed of our 
intentions he barred a removal. His politeness and hospi- 
tality, of which he has a large share, prevented our execut- 
ing the designs we had formed." f 

" June 24. — The King's birth-day. — At eleven o'clock the 
Governor had a levee at his house, at which the officers of 
government, the members of the legislature, the officers of 
the army, and a number of strangers attended. At one 
o'clock there was firing from the troops, the battery, and 
from the ship in the harbour. In the evening there was 
quite a splendid ball, about twenty well dressed handsome 
ladies, and about three times that number of gentlemen 
present. They danced from seven o'clock to eleven. Sup- 
per was then announced, where we found every thing good 
and in pretty taste. The music and dancing were good, and 
every thing was conducted with propriety. What excited 
the best feelings of my heart was the ease and affection with 
which the ladies met each other ; although there were a 
number present whose mothers sprang from the aborigines 
of the country. They appeared as well dressed as the com- 
pany in general, and intermixed with them in a manner 



* Published in the Massachusetts Historical Collections. r 

t The Official Journal of the Commissioners also contains acknowledgments of 
the Governor's attentive kindness and hospitality. See the Journal, &c, printed in 
the American State Papers, Indian Affairs, Vol. I. Document No. 40. 



XIV MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. 

which evinced at once the dignity of their own minds and 
the good sense of others. These ladies possess great inge- 
nuity and industry, and have great merit ; for the educa- 
tion which they have acquired is owing principally to their 
own industry, as their father, Sir William Johnson, was 
dead, and the mother retained the dress and manners of her 
tribe. 

" Governor Simcoe is exceedingly attentive to these pub- 
lic assemblies, and makes it his study to reconcile the in- 
habitants, who have tasted the pleasures of society, to their 
present situation, in an infant province. He intends the 
next winter to have concerts and assemblies very frequent- 
ly. Hereby he at once evinces a regard to the happiness of 
the people and his knowledge of the world; for while 
the people are allured to become settlers in this country, 
from the richness of the soil, and the clemency of the sea- 
sons, it is important to make their situation as flattering as 
possible." 

The Duke de la Rochefoucault Liancourt speaks at great 
length* of Governor Simcoe and his Canadian policy. He 
says : — 

" But for this inveterate hatred against the United States, 
which he too loudly professes, and which carries him too 
far, General Simcoe appears in the most advantageous light. 
He is just, active, enlightened, brave, frank, and possesses 
the confidence of the country, of the troops, and of all those 
who join him in the administration of public affairs. To 
these he attends with the closest application ; he preserves 
all the old friends of his King, and neglects no means to pro- 
cure him new ones. He unites, in my judgment, all the 
qualities which his station requires, -to maintain the impor- 
tant possession of Canada, if it be possible that England 
can long retain it. 

" In his private life, Governor Simcoe is simple, plain and 



* In his Travels in North America in 1795, &c. London, 1799. 2 Vols. 4to 



MEMOIR OP THE AUTHOR. XV 

obliging. He lives in a noble and hospitable manner, with- 
out pride ; his mind is enlightened ; his character mild and 
obliging ; he discourses with much good sense on all sub- 
jects, but his favourite topics are his projects and war, 
which seem to be the objects of his leading passions. He 
is acquainted with the military history of all countries ; no 
hillock catches his eye without exciting in his mind the idea 
of a fort, which might be constructed on the spot ; and with 
the construction of this fort he associates the plan of ope- 
rations for a campaign, especially of that which is to lead 
him to Philadelphia, 

" Mrs. Simcoe is a lady of thirty-six years of age. She is 
timid, and speaks little ; but she is a woman of sense, hand- 
some and amiable, and fulfils all the duties of mother and 
wife with the most scrupulous exactness. The performance 
of the latter she carries so far as to be of great assistance 
to her husband by her talents for drawing, the practice of 
which confined to maps and plans, enables her to be ex- 
tremely useful to the Governor." 

An anecdote, related by the Duke, is worth quoting as a 
curious illustration of Simcoe's wish to gain the favour of 
the savages : — 

" The Governor is very anxious to oblige and please the 
Indians ; his only son, a child four years old, is dressed as 
an Indian, and called Tioga, which name has been given 
him by the Mohawks. This harmless farce may be of use 
in the intercourse with the Indians." 

In October, 1794, Colonel Simcoe was promoted to the 
rank of major-general, and a new field was soon opened for 
the exercise of his abilities in the Island of St. Domingo, 
which in 1793 had been taken possession of by the troops 
from Jamaica, and now required a person of talents to take 
the command of it, as civil governor and commander in 
chief, in the room of Sir Adam Williamson. As there was 
none more deserving of so important a station, Major-General 
Simcoe was appointed, with the local rank of lieutenant- 



XVI MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. 

general, on the 3d of December, 1796. The nomination of 
this officer was very acceptable to all ranks in the island, 
in which he arrived during February of the following year. 
But the colony was soon deprived of its valued governor, 
who returned to England in the month of July, in the same 
year. Short, however, as was his stay, he did more than 
any former general, in conciliating the native inhabitants 
to the British government. 

On the 3d of October, 1798, he was made a lieutenant- 
general in the British army. In 1801, when the French in- 
vasion of England was threatened, the important command 
of the town of Plymouth, the county of Devon, &c, was 
entrusted to him, and from his uncommon exertions in dis- 
cipling the volunteers, and in other preparations, it was 
thought that the enemy, in any attempt to land in that part 
of the country, would have received a severe check. 

The suspected design of France to invade Portugal, in 
1806, directed the anxious attention of the British govern- 
ment towards the critical situation of that country, and the 
first care of the ministry was promptly to provide the only 
remaining ally of England upon the continent with the as- 
sistance of forces proportioned to the magnitude of the 
threatened and imminent danger. Lieutenant-General Sim- 
coe and the Earl of Rosslyn, with their staff, were imme- 
diately sent to join Lord St. Vincent, who was with a fleet 
in the Tagus, and to open, in conjunction with him, such a 
communication with the Court of Lisbon, as might at once 
lead to a full understanding of the extent of the threatened 
danger, the means of resisting it, and the best mode of co- 
operating for that purpose. 

General Simcoe was taken ill on the voyage, and his 
malady increased so rapidly after his arrival, that he was 
under the necessity of speedily returning to England, where 
he died a few hours after he landed.* 



* Annual Register. 



MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. XV11 

The appointment to the chief command of the British 
forces in India had been conferred upon General Simcoe as 
successor to Lord Lake, and his lady was in London mak- 
ing the necessary preparations for the voyage when she re- 
ceived the melancholy intelligence of his death, shortly 
after his arrival at Torbay in Devonshire. 

Thus died Lieutenant-General John Graves Simcoe at 
the age of fifty-four years, a soldier, a gentleman, and a 
scholar. The glory, the titles, and the preferments seeming 
to await his career in India were by an overruling Provi- 
dence not permitted to be attained by him. Nature made 
him one of her noblemen, and by inheritance likewise the 
title was his. Fortune has given him a space moderate in- 
deed in history. But for his untimely end, however, no 
complaint probably would have been made that he did not 
reach the goal of his highest ambition as a soldier, to wear 
his honours in their newest gloss at least, if, in death, he 
had cast them aside too soon. 

His country was deprived of an accomplished and skilful 
officer, and his widow and children of an excellent husband 
and father. As a military man General Simcoe was often 
consulted by those high in office, and was a member of ev- 
ery board of general officers ordered by the King after his 
promotion made him eligible. In fact few gentlemen in 
the service were more capable of deciding on professional 
affairs, whether respecting discipline, or interior economy. 
He was also highly esteemed by a numerous circle of friends 
of the first respectability, and his opinion and advice were 
taken in matters of the most interesting nature, for which 
he was eminently qualified, by his good sense and knowl-. 
edge of the world. 



A JOURNAL 



OPERATIONS 



THE QUEEN'S HANGERS, 



THE END OF THE YEAR 1777, 



CONCLUSION OF THE LATE AMERICAN WAR. 



BY LIEUTENANT-COLONEL SIMCOE, 

COMMANDER OF THAT CORPS. 



EXETER: 
PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The writer of these Memoirs has been induced to print 
them by a variety of reasons, among which the following 
are included. Actions erroneously attributed to others may 
be restored to those who really performed them : His own 
memory may be renewed, and preserved in their bosoms, 
whose patronage and confidence he acknowledges with pride 
and gratitude ; while, at the same time, he bears testimony 
to the merits of those excellent officers and soldiers whom 
it was his good fortune to command, during the late war in 
America : a war which he always considered as forced upon 
Great Britain, and in which he served from principle. 
Events, however unfortunate, can neither alter its nature 
nor cancel his opinion. Had he supposed it to have been 
unjust, he would have resigned his commission ; for no true 
soldier and servant of his country will ever admit that a 
British officer can divest himself of the duties of a citizen, 
or in a civil contest is bound to support the cause his con- 
science rejects. 

The command of a light corps, or, as it is termed, the ser- 
vice of a partisan, is generally esteemed the best mode of 
instruction for those who aim at higher stations ; as it gives 
an opportunity of exemplifying professional acquisitions, 
fixes the habit of self-dependance for resources, and obliges 
to that prompt decision which in the common rotation of 
duty subordinate officers can seldom exhibit, yet without 
which none can be qualified for any trust of importance. 
To attain this employment was therefore an early object 
with the author ; nor could he be diverted from his purpose 
by the shameful character of dishonesty, rapine, and false- 
hood, supposed to attend it ; at least by those who formed 
their judgment on the conversation of such officers as had 
been witnesses to the campaigns in Germany. He had fairer 
examples to profit from; as the page of military history 
scarcely details more spirited exertions in this kind of ser- 



14 INTRODUCTION. 

vice, than what distinguishingly marked the last civil com- 
motions in England; and Massey's well known saying, 
" that he could not look upon the goods of any Englishman 
" as those of an enemy," delineated the integrity of the citi- 
zen, and the honourable policy of the soldier. 

His intimate connection with that most upright and zeal- 
ous officer the late Admiral Graves, who commanded at Bos- 
ton in the year 1775, and some services which he was pleas- 
ed to entrust him with, brought him acquainted with many 
of the American loyalists : from them he soon learned the 
practicability of raising troops in the country whenever it 
should be opened to the King's forces ; and the propriety of 
such a measure appeared to be self-evident. He therefore 
importuned Admiral Graves to ask of General Gage that he 
might enlist such negroes as were in Boston, and with them 
put himself under the direction of Sir James Wallace, who 
was then actively engaged at Rhode Island, and to whom 
that colony had opposed negroes ; adding to the Admiral, 
who seemed surprised at his request, " that he entertained 
"no doubt he should soon exchange them for whites:" Gen. 
Gage, on the Admiral's application, informed him that the 
negroes were not sufficiently numerous to be serviceable, 
and that he had other employment for those who were in 
Boston. 

When the army sailed from Halifax for Staten Island, the 
author was Captain of the grenadier company of the 40th 
regiment, and during the time of winter quarters at Bruns- 
wick, in 1776, went purposely to New- York to solicit the 
command of the Queen's Rangers, then vacant. The boat 
he was in, being driven from the place of its destination, he 
was exceedingly chagrined to find that he had arrived some 
hours too late : but he desired that Col. Cuyler, Sir William 
Howe's Aid-de-Camp, would mention his coming thither to 
him, as well as his design. On the army's embarking for the 
Chesapeake, he wrote to General Grant, under whom he had 
served, requesting his good offices in procuring him a com- 
mand like that of the Queen's Rangers, if any other corps 
intended for similar employment should be raised in the 
country, to which the expedition was destined. 

These circumstances are related, not only as introductory 
to the subsequent journal, but to show how very early his 
thoughts were bent on attaining the command of a corps 
raised in America, for the active duty of light troops. 



INTRODUCTION. 15 

The journal, as it is, in its own nature, not generally in- 
teresting, and guarded from any observations foreign to the 
subject, he by no means wishes to obtrude upon the public ; " 
but hopes it will be favourably received by those to whom 
he shall offer it as a testimony of respect, and with whom it 
may claim some indulgence, as the particular nature and 
event of the American war gives a degree of consequence 
to operations however minute : for it terminated not in the 
loss of some petty fortress, or trivial island, but in thedivulsion 
of a continent from a continent ; of a world from a world. 

The officer who conducts a light corps properly, will in his 
small sphere make use of the same principles which Gener- 
als apply to the regulation of armies. He will naturally 
imitate the commanders under whom he serves ; while the 
individuals of his corps (for in such a service only individu- 
als become of importance) will manifest a spirit which pro- 
baby the whole army may possess without having similar 
opportunities of calling it into action. 

History cannot produce examples of more ardent zeal in 
the service of their country, than that which characterised 
the British officers and soldiers in America. They despised 
all those conveniences without which it would be thought 
impracticable for European armies to move. They did not 
tamely wait for the moment of exertion in the precise line of 
their duty, but boldly sought out danger and death ; and no 
sooner was one officer lost on any hazardous service than 
many competitors appeared to succeed in the post of honour. 
It was this spirit which, among uncommon difficulties, so fre- 
quently triumphed over numbers of brave, skilful, and enter- 
prising opponents. The British soldier who thought himself 
superior, actually became so ; and the ascendancy which he 
claimed was in many instances importantly admitted by his 
antagonists. Nor was this spirit, the result of principle, 
confined to the operations of the field: it was shown in the 
hour of civil persecution and rigorous imprisonment ; in sit- 
uations where coolness supplies the place of activity, and 
thought precedes execution. General Gage in a celebrated 
letter to Washington at the commencement of the war, had 
said, "that such trials would be met with the fortitude of 
" martyrs ;" and the behaviour of the loyalists amply con- 
firmed his prophesy. 

The British Generals were commonly obliged to hazard 
their armies without any possibility of retreat in case of 
misadventure : they trusted to the spirit and discipline of 



16 INTRODUCTION. 

their troops ; and the decision, with which they risked them- 
selves, forms the most striking and singular feature of the 
American war. Nor was this only done when the armies 
were in their full force ; by Sir William Howe in his cam- 
paigns, particularly in the glorious battle of the Brandy- 
wine ; by Sir Henry Clinton in his celebrated march through 
the Jersies ; by Earl Cornwallis in a latter period at Guild- 
ford, when the war was transferred to the Carolinas ; and 
eminently by Lord Rawdon, who was 

" Left to bide the disadvantage of a field 

" Where nothing but the sound of Britain's name 

" Did seem defensible j" 

but the same spirit was infused into the smallest operations ; 
and the light troops in their enterprises, confident in the su- 
periority of their composition, scarcely admitted the idea of 
retreat, or calculated against the contingency of a repulse. 
An account of the Queen's Rangers, and their operations, 
will elucidate the preceding positions ; show in such a point 
of view their similitude to the British army, and contain, as 
it were, an epitome of its histor} r . 

This Journal alleges no fact but what the author believes 
to be true ; the frequent introduction of his own name may 
appear redundant, but is absolutely necessary to the perspi- 
cuity of the work. He never valued himself so highly on 
the actions which it was his good fortune to perform to the 
satisfaction of his superiors, as voluntarily to prescribe them 
for the boundaries of his professional ambition. Yet, as a 
British officer, should he live to double the number of years 
which he has already devoted to the service of his country, 
it is scarcely possible that he shall ever be appointed to so 
important a trust as that which he solicited, when he offered 
to fortify and maintain Billingsport : And as an European 
soldier, and an European subject, what field for honourable 
enterprise can ever be so wide, as that which he would have 
expatiated in, had he according to his own plan, joined the 
Indians ; directed them to collateral exertion ; and associ- 
ating the loyalists of the back countries zealous in the 
British cause, united them with the enemies of Congress ; 
set before them the Queen's Rangers as their most necessa- 
ry guides and examples ; led the whole combination to in- 
cessant and adventurous action during the war ; and if vic- 
torious, had remained at their head in that hour when 
America was declared independent by a critical and unex- 
pected peace ! 



A JOURNAL. 



On the 15th of October, 1777, Sir William Howe 
was pleased to appoint Captain Simcoe of the Gre- 
nadiers, with the Provincial rank of Major, to the 
command of the Queen's Rangers ; the next day he 
joined the regiment, which was encamped with the 
army in the vicinity of Germantown. 

On the 19th the army marched to Philadelphia, the 
Queen's Rangers formed the rear guard of the left 
column, and, in the encampment, their post was on 
the right of the line, in front of the village of Ken- 
sington ; the army extending from the Delaware to 
the Schuylkill. 

On the 20th the regiment was augmented with 
nearly an hundred men, who had been enlisted by 
Captain Smyth during the various marches from the 
landing of the army in the Chesapeake to this period. 

This was a very seasonable recruit to the regi- 
ment ; it had suffered materially in the action at 
Brandywine, and was too much reduced in numbers 
to be of any efficient service ; but if the loss of a 
great number of gallant officers and soldiers had 
been severely felt, the impression which that action 
had left upon their minds was of the highest advan- 
1 



18 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

tage to the regiment ; officers and soldiers became 
known to each other ; they had been engaged in a 
more serious manner, and with greater disadvantages 
than they were likely again to meet with in the com- 
mon chance of war ; and having extricated them- 
selves most gallantly from such a situation, they felt 
themselves invincible. This spirit vibrated among 
them at the time Major Simcoe joined them ; and it 
was obvious, that he had nothing to do but to cherish 
and preserve it. Sir William Howe, in consequence 
of their behaviour at Brandywine, had promised that 
all promotions should go in the regiment, and accord- 
ingly they now took place. 

The Queen's Rangers had been originally raised in 
Connecticut, and the vicinity of New York, by 
Colonel Rogers, for the duties which their name im- 
plies, and which were detailed in his commission ; at 
one period they mustered above four hundred men, 
all Americans, and all loyalists. Hardships and neg- 
lect had much reduced their numbers, when the com- 
mand of them was given to Colonel French, and af- 
terwards to Major Weymess, to whom Major Simcoe 
succeeded ; their officers also had undergone a ma- 
terial change ; many gentlemen of the Southern col- 
onies who had joined Lord Dunmore, and distinguish- 
ed themselves under his orders, were appointed to 
supercede those who were not thought competent to 
the . commissions they had hitherto borne ; to these 
were added some volunteers from the army, the whole 
consisting of young men, active, full of love of the 
service, emulous to distinguish themselves in it, and 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 19 

looking forward to obtain, through their actions, the 
honor of being enrolled with the British army. 

The Provincial corps, now forming, were raised 
on the supposed influence which their officers had 
among their loyal countrymen, and were understood 
to be native American loyalists ; added to an equal 
chance among these, a greater resource was opened 
to the Queen's Rangers, in the exclusive privilege of 
enlisting old countrymen (as Europeans were termed 
in America) and deserters from the rebel army ; so 
that could the officers to whom the Commander in 
Chief delegated the inspection of the Provincial 
corps have executed their orders, the Queen's Rang- 
ers, however dangerously and incessantly employed, 
would never have been in want of recruits ; at the 
same time, the original loyalists, and those of this 
description, who were from time to time enlisted, 
forming the gross of the corps, were the source from 
whence it derived its value and its discipline ; they 
were men who had already been exiled for their at- 
tachment to the British government, and who now 
acted upon the firmest principles in its defence ; on 
the contrary, the people they had to oppose, however 
characterised by the enemies of Great Britain, had 
never been considered by them as engaged in an 
honourable cause, or fighting for the freedom of their 
country ; they estimated them not by their words, 
but by an intimate observance of their actions, and 
to civil desecration, experience had taught them to 
add military contempt. Such was the composition 



20 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

of the Queen's Rangers, and the spirit that animat- 
ed it. 

The junction of Captain Smyth's company aug- 
mented the regiment into eleven companies, the num- 
ber of which was equalised, and the eleventh was 
formed of Highlanders. Several of those brave men, 
who had been defeated in an attempt to join the army 
in North Carolina, were now in the corps ; to those 
others were added, and the command was given to 
Captain M'Kay ; they were furnished with the High- 
land dress, and their national piper, and were posted 
on the left flank of the regiment, which consisted of 
eight battalions, a grenadier, and light infantry com- 
pany. Upon the march from German Town to Ken- 
sington, Sir William Erskine, in directing what duties 
Major Simcoe should do, had told him to call upon 
him for dragoons whenever he wanted them ; upon 
this, Major Simcoe took the liberty of observing, 
" that the clothing and habiliments of the dragoons 
" were so different from those of the Queen's Rang- 
" ers (the one being in red, and with white belts? 
" easily seen at a distance, and the other in green, 
" and accoutred for concealment) that he thought it 
" would be more useful to mount a dozen soldiers of 
" the regiment." Sir William Erskine highly approv- 
ed of the idea, and sent a suitable number of horses, 
saddles, and swords ; such men were selected for the 
service as the officers recommended for spirit and 
presence of mind ; they were put under the direction 
of Kelly, a Serjeant of distinguished gallantry. A 
light corps, augmented as that of the Queen's Rang- 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 21 

ers was, and employed on the duties of an outpost, 
had no opportunity of being instructed in the general 
discipline of the army, nor indeed was it very neces- 
sary : the most important duties, those of vigilance, 
activity, and patience of fatigue, were best learnt in 
the field ; a few motions of the manual exercise were 
thought sufficient ; they were carefully instructed in 
those of firing, but above all, attention was paid to 
inculcate the use of the bayonet, and a total reliance 
on that weapon. The divisions being fully officered, 
and weak in numbers, was of the greatest utility, and 
in many trying situations was the preservation of the 
corps ; two files in the centre, and two on each flank, 
were directed to be composed of trained soldiers, 
without regard to their size or appearance. It was 
explained, that no rotation, except in ordinary duties, 
should take place among light troops, but that those 
officers would be selected for any service who ap- 
peared to be most capable of executing it : it was 
also enforced by example, that no service was to be 
measured by the numbers employed on it, but by its 
own importance, and that five men, in critical situa- 
tions or employment, was a more honourable com- 
mand than an hundred on common duties. Serjeant's 
guards were in a manner abolished, a circumstance 
to which in a great measure may be attributed, that 
no sentinel or guard of the Queen's Rangers was 
ever surprised ; the vigilance of a gentleman and an 
officer being transcendantly superior to that of any 
non-commissioned officer whatsoever. An attention 
to the interior ceconomy of a company, indispensable 
1* 



22 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

as it is, by no means forms the most pleasing military 
duty upon service, where the officer looks up to 
something more essentially useful, and values himself 
upon its execution. A young corps raised in the 
midst of active service, and without the habits of 
discipline, which are learnt in time of peace, requir- 
ed the strictest attention in this point. It was ob- 
served, that regularity in messing, and cleanliness in 
every respect, conduced to the health of the soldier ; 
and from the numbers that each regiment brought into 
the field, superior officers would in general form the 
best estimate of the attention of a corps to its interi- 
or ceconomy ; and to enforce the performance of 
these duties in the strongest manner, it was declared 
in public orders, " that to such only when in the field, 
" the commanding officer would entrust the duties of 
" it, who should execute with spirit what belongs to 
" the interior ceconomy of the regiment when in 
M quarters." To avoid written orders as much as pos- 
sible, after the morning parade, the officers attended, 
as the German custom is, and received verbally what- 
ever could be so delivered to them, and they were 
declared answerable that every written order was read 
to the men on their separate parades. 

Near the end of October the Queen's Rangers 
were directed to patrole beyond Frankfort, four miles 
from Philadelphia ; it was the day that Colonel Do- 
nop made his unfortunate attempt on Red Bank; 
they advanced as far as the Red Lion, which several 
of the rebel officers had left a few minutes before. 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 23 

The country in front of Philadelphia, where the 
Queen's Rangers were employed, was in general 
cleared ground, but intersected with many woods ; 
the fields were fenced out with very high railing : the 
main road led straight from Philadelphia to Bristol 
Ferry on the Delaware ; about five miles from Phila- 
delphia, on this road, was Frankfort Creek which 
fell into the Delaware nearly at that distance, and the 
angle that it formed was called Point-no-Point, within 
which were many good houses and plantations. 

Beyond the bridge over the creek, on a height, 
was the village of Frankfort ; below the bridge it was 
not fordable, but it was easily passed in many places 
above it. The rebels frequently patrolled as far as 
Frankfort, and to a place called the Rocks, about a 
mile beyond it. Four miles farther was Pennypack 
Creek, over which was a bridge ; three miles beyond 
this was the Red Lion tavern, and two miles further 
was Bristol, a small town opposite Burlington : this 
road was the nearest to the river Delaware ; nearly 
parallel to it was the road to York, which was attend- 
ed to by the light infantry, of the guards, and the 
army ; there were many cross roads that intersected 
the country between these main roads, a most perfect 
knowledge of which was endeavored to be acquired 
by maps, drawn from the information of the country 
people, and by occular observation. 

The village of Kensington was several times at- 
tacked by the rebel patrolling parties ; they could 
come by means of the woods very near to it undis- 
covered; there was a road over a small creek to 



24 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

Point-no-Point ; to defend this a house was made 
musket proof, and the bridge taken up ; cavalry only- 
approached to this post, for it lying, as has been men- 
tioned, in an angle between the Delaware and the 
Frankfort road, infantry were liable to be cut off; 
on the left there was a knoll that overlooked the 
country ; this was the post of the piquet in the day- 
time, but corn fields high enough to conceal the ap- 
proach of an enemy reached to its basis ; sentinels 
from hence inclined to the left and joined those of 
Colonel Twistleton's (now Lord Say and Sele) light 
infantry of the guards, so that this hill projected for- 
ward, and on that account was ordered by Sir Wil- 
liam Erskine not to be defended if attacked in force, 
and it was withdrawn at night. It was usual, if the 
enemy approached, to quit this post till such time as 
the corps could get under arms, and the light infantry 
of the guards were informed of it ; when, marching 
up the road, the enemy fearing to be shut up within 
the creek that has been mentioned, abandoned their 
ground and generally suffered in their retreat to the 
woods. At night the corps was drawn back to the 
houses nearer Philadelphia, and guards were placed 
behind breastworks, made by heaping up the fences 
in such points as commanded the avenues to the vil- 
lage ; (which was laid out and enclosed in right an- 
gles ;) these were themselves overlooked by others 
that constituted the alarm post of the different com- 
panies. Fires also were made in particular places 
before the piquet, to discover whatsoever should ap- 
proach. Before day the whole corps was under arms, 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 25 

and remained so till the piquets returned to their 
day post, which they resumed, taking every precau- 
tion against ambuscades ; the light infantry of the 
guards advanced their piquets at the same time, and 
Colonel T wis tie ton was an admirable pattern for at- 
tention and spirit, to all who served with him. He 
was constantly with the piquets, which generally 
found out the enemy's patroles, and interchanged 
shot with them : his horse was one morning wounded 
by a rifle shot. The mounted men of the Queen's 
Ranger's were found very serviceable on these occa- 
sions. The woods in the front were every day di- 
minishing, being cut down for the uses of the army, 
and the enemy kept at a greater distance. An attempt 
was made to surprize the rebel post at Frankfort ; by 
orders from head quarters the Queen's Rangers were 
to march near to the bridge at Frankfort, and to lay 
there in ambuscade till such time as Major Gwyn, 
who made a circuit with a detachment of cavalry, 
should fall into the rear of the town. Accordingly 
the corps marched through bye paths, and attained 
its position : some dragoons at the appointed time 
passed the bridge from Frankfort. The light was not 
sufficient to enable the Rangers to discover whether 
they were friends or enemies, till upon their turning 
back and hearing a shot, the corps rushed into the 
town ; unfortunately, either by accident or from in- 
formation, the rebel post had been withdrawn. Some 
days after the Queen's Rangers, with thirty dragoons 
of the 16th, under Lieutenant Pidcock, marched at 
midnight to attempt the same post ; after making a 



26 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

circuit, and nearly attaining the rear of the Jolly Post, 
the public house where the guard was kept, the party 
fell in with a patrole ; this was cut off from the house ; 
it luckily did not fire, but ran towards the wood : the 
detachment was carefully prevented from firing. No 
time was lost in the pursuit of the enemy, but the 
infantry crossed the fields immediately in the rear of 
the house, and a disposition was formed for attacking 
it, in case, as it well might have been, it should be 
defended : the cavalry made a circuit to the road in 
the rear, and the post was completely surprized. An 
officer and twenty men were taken prisoners, two or 
three of whom were slightly wounded in an attempt 
to escape ; they were militia, and what is very re- 
markable, they had the word " Richmond" chalked 
in their hats ; the officer said " Richmond was the 
" countersign, and that he chalked it there that his 
" men might not forget it." Serjeant Kelly dismount- 
ed an officer, and in pursuit of another man, left him ; 
the officer gave his watch to another dragoon ; it was 
however adjudged to the Serjeant, as he was the per- 
son who dismounted him, spared his life, and pursued 
his duty. It is not improper here to observe, that 
formerly Major Simcoe had forbidden the soldiers to 
take watches, and indeed did so after this, 'till he 
accidentally overheard a man say it was not worth 
while to bring in a prisoner ; he therefore made it a 
rule, that any one who took a prisoner, if he publicly 
declared he had his watch, should keep it ; so that no 
soldier was interested to kill any man. This spirit 
of taking as many prisoners as possible was most 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 27 

earnestly attempted to be inculcated, and not without 
success. Soon after, as a strong patrole of cavalry, 
under Major Gwyn, was out, some of its men returned 
in great confusion, saying, " that they were attacked 
" by a superior body, both in front and rear :" at the 
same time Colonel Twistleton and Major Simcoe, who 
were on the Knoll, occupied by the piquet of the 
Rangers, could perceive by the glittering of arms, a 
large body of foot in a wood, near which Major Gwyn 
was to return, they immediately took their respective 
piquets, about twenty men, and marched to mask the 
wood. The soldiers in camp were ordered to run to 
the Knoll, without waiting, and the officer of the 
piquet was directed to form them as fast as they 
came up, by twelves, and to forward them under the 
first officer or Serjeant who should arrive. The whole 
regiment and the light infantry of the guards were 
soon on the march ; the enemy in the wood retreated ; 
and gaining better intelligence, Colonel Twisleton 
halted on the verge of it, till Major Gwyn, who had 
beaten back the enemy, returned. The next day it 
was known that Pulaski had commanded the enemy: 
a skirmish had happened the day before, between 
smaller parties, and he, supposing that a large patrole 
would be sent out from Philadelphia, obtained the 
command of a very strong one to ambuscade it ; but, 
however able and spirited he might be, he was soon 
convinced that his irregulars could not withstand the 
promptitude and strength of the British cavalry. 

Parties of the Rangers every day went to Frank- 
fort, where the enemy no longer kept a fixed post, 



2§ JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

though they frequently sent a patrole to stop the market 
people. A patrolling party of the Rangers approach- 
ed undiscovered so close to a rebel sentinel, posted 
upon the bridge, that it would have been easy to have 
killed him. A boy, whom he had just examined, was 
sent back to inform him of this, and to direct him im- 
mediately to quit his post or that he should be shot ; 
he ran off, and the whole party, on his arrival at the 
guard, fled with equal precipitation ; nor were there 
any more sentinels placed there : a matter of some 
consequence to the poor people of Philadelphia, as 
they were not prevented from getting their flour 
ground at Frankfort mills. 

It was the object, to instil into the men, that their 
superiority lay in close fight, and in the use of the 
bayonet, in which the individual courage, and person- 
al activity that characterise the British soldier can 
best display themselves. The whole corps being to- 
gether on the Frankfort road, information was receiv- 
ed that Pulaski with his cavalry was approaching ; on 
each side of the road, for some distance, there was 
wood, and very high rails fenced it from the road ; 
the march was not interrupted, and the following dis- 
position was made to attack him. The light infantry 
in front were loaded, and occupied the whole space of 
the road ; Captain Stephenson, who commanded it, 
was directed not to fire at one or two men, who might 
advance, but, either on their firing or turning back, to 
give notice of his approach, to follow at a brisk and 
steady rate, and to fire only on the main body when 
he came close to them. The eight battalion compa- 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 29 

nies were formed about thirty feet from the light in- 
fantry, in close column by companies, their bayonets 
fixed, and not loaded ; they were instructed not to 
heed the enemy's horses, but to bayonet the men. 
The grenadiers and Highland company were in the 
rear, loaded; and the directions given to Captain 
Armstrong were, that the grenadiers should cross the 
fences on the right, and the Highlanders those on the 
left, and secure the flanks ; the men were so prepared 
and so chearful, that if an opportunity of rushing on 
Pulaski's cavalry had offered, which by the winding 
of the road was probable, before they could be put 
into career, there remains no doubt upon the minds of 
those who were present, but that it would have been 
a' very honourable day for the Rangers. 

On the 3d of November the news of the surrender 
of General Burgoyne's army was communicated in 
general orders. It was read to the Rangers on their 
parade; and amidst the distress that such an event 
must naturally occasion to Englishmen and soldiers, 
never did Major Simcoe feel himself more elevated, or 
augur better of the officers and men he had the honour 
to command, than when he came to the rejection of 
one of the proposed articles, in the following terms : 
" Sooner than this army will consent to ground their 
" arms in their encampment, they will rush on the 
" enemy, determined to take no quarter ;" the whole 
corps thrilled with animation, and resentment against 
the enemy, and with sympathy for their fellow sol- 
diers ; it would have been the most favorable mo- 
ment, had the enemy appeared, to have attacked them. 
2 



30 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

Major Grymes, a Virginia gentleman of loyalty, edu- 
cation, and fortune, who was second Major of the 
Queen's Rangers, at this time resigned his commis- 
sion, to the great regret of Major Simcoe and of the 
corps, whose confidence he had won by extricating 
them from a very disadvantageous situation, by a de- 
cisive and bold exertion at Brandy wine : he was suc- 
ceeded in duties, with the rank of Captain Command- 
ant, by Lieutenant Ross of the 35th regiment, with 
whose intrepidity, and zeal for the service, Major 
Simcoe was well acquainted. 

The redoubts in front of Philadelphia being finish- 
ed, the advance piquets were withdrawn and posted 
in them, that of the Queen's Rangers excepted ; it 
remained without the redoubt, though it had fallen 
back much nearer to it : it was liable to insult, but it 
would have been difficult to have surprised it. The 
Knoll was still the outpost, and the general place to 
which many of the officers of the line rode, in order 
to laugh at the mounted men and their habiliments ; 
but other troops of cavalry were now raising, and the 
utility of them, through all the ridicule of bad horses 
and want of appointments, became very obvious. 

On General Washington's occupying the camp at 
Whitemarsh, Sir William Howe thought proper to 
move towards him, and the army marched according- 
ly on the 5th of December ; the Queen's Rangers 
were ordered to flank the right of the baggage. The 
army encamped on Chesnut-Hill and its vicinity ; and 
the piquet of the Rangers made fires on the road 
that led to it, so that the approach of any parties of 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 31 

the enemy could easily be seen. The army remained 
the next day in the same position. On the 7th, at 
night, Major Simcoe with the Queen's Rangers, and a 
party of dragoons under Captain Lord Cathcart, took 
up the position of some of the troops who had retir- 
ed ; this post was sometime afterwards quitted in 
great silence, and he joined the column that was 
marching under General Gray. The General march- 
ed all night, and on approaching the enemy's outpost, 
he formed his column into three divisions ; the ad- 
vanced guard of the centre consisted of the Hessian 
Yagers, who marched with their cannon up the road 
that led through the wood, in which the enemy's light 
troops were posted ; the light infantry of the guards 
advanced upon the right, and the Queen's Rangers on 
the left ; the enemy were outflanked on each wing, 
and were turned in attempting to escape by the un- 
paralleled swiftness of the light infantry of the guards, 
and driven across the fire of the Yagers, and the 
Queen's Rangers. The loss of the rebels was com- 
puted at near an hundred, with little or none on the 
part of the King's troops ; a mounted man of the 
Queen's Rangers, in the pursuit, was killed by a 
Yager, through mistake : he wore a helmet that had 
been taken from a rebel patrole a few days before. 
General Grey was pleased to express himself highly 
satisfied with the order and rapidity with which the 
Rangers advanced. The night was passed in a wood 
not far from the enemy's camp. The next day Major 
Simcoe patrolled in the vicinity : he left the infantry 
of his party at the edge of the wood, and approach* 



32 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

ed a house ; the owner of it, who supposed that all 
the British soldiers wore red, was easily imposed 
upon to believe him a rebel officer, and a cow-bell 
being, as preconcerted, rang in the wood, and an Of- 
ficer gallopping to Major Simcoe and telling him that 
the British were marauding and hunting the cattle, 
the man had no doubt of the matter, and instantly 
acquiesced in a proposal to fetch some more cavalry 
to seize the British ; he accordingly mounted his 
horse and gallopped off. The ambuscade was prop- 
erly laid for whomsoever he should bring, when Cap- 
tain Andre came with orders to retreat, the column 
being already in motion ; the infantry were scarce 
sent off and the mounted men following, when about 
thirty of the rebel dragoons appeared in sight and on 
the gallop ; they fired several carbine shot, to no pur- 
pose. The army returned to Philadelphia. 

The disaster that happened to the mounted Ranger 
determined Major Simcoe to provide high caps, 
which might at once distinguish them both from the 
rebel army and their own ; the mounted men were 
termed Huzzars, were armed with a sword, and such 
pistols as could be bought, or taken from the enemy ; 
Major Simcoe's wish was to add a dagger to these 
arms, not only as useful in close action, but to lead the 
minds of the soldier to expect that decisive mode of 
combat. Several good horses had been taken from 
the rebels, so that the Huzzars were now well mount- 
ed, on hardy serviceable horses, which bore a very 
unusual share of fatigue. Lieutenant Wickham, an 
officer of quickness, and courage, was appointed to 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 33 

command them, and a serjeant of the 16th regiment 
of light dragoons attended their parade, to give them 
regularity in its duties. 

Several men having deserted, Major Simcoe direct- 
ed that the countersign should not be given to the sen- 
tinels ; they were ordered to stop any persons at a 
distance, more than one, until the guard turned out ; 
and in posting of sentinels, the rule was, to place them 
so that, if possible, they could see and not be seen, 
and in different posts in the night from those of the 
day. Near high-roads, double sentinels, without be- 
ing loaded, were advanced beyond the front of the 
chain ; these were composed of old soldiers who, with 
all others, were sedulously instructed to challenge very 
loud. The sentinels were relieved every hour. The 
subaltern frequently patrolled, as did the captain of the 
day, and the field officers : the consequence was, that 
the Queen's Rangers never gave a false alarm, or had 
a sentinel surprised, during the war. It is remarkable 
that a man deserted at this time who left all his neces- 
saries, regimentals excepted : he had lately come from 
Europe, and, to all appearance, had enlisted merely to 
facilitate his joining the rebel army. 

It may be here a proper place to describe the coun- 
try in front of Philadelphia ; and the general duties 
on which the Queen's Rangers were employed, during 
the winter. 

The road on the right, and nearest the Delaware, 
has been already mentioned by the name of the Frank- 
fort road : from the centre of Philadelphia, the main 
road led up the country, and about two miles off, at 
2* 



34 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

the Rising Sun, it branched into the Old York road on 
the right, and that of the Germantown on the left. 
The light infantry of the guards patrolled up the 
York-Town road, as that of the line did the German- 
town ; those that ran on the side of the Schuylkill, 
were in front of the Yagers, and patrolled by them. 
The Queen's Rangers, by their position, were at the 
greatest distance from Mr. Washington's camp, which 
was now at Valley Forge, beyond the Schuylkill, and 
as the course of the Delaware inclined away from the 
Schuylkill, the distance was considerably increased ; 
so that no detachment from his camp could have been 
made without extreme hazard ; from the York-Town 
road, therefore, on the left, and the Delaware river on 
the right, Major Simcoe felt no apprehensions ; when 
he passed Frankfort creek in front he was to be guid- 
ed by circumstances. The general directions he re- 
ceived was to secure the country, and facilitate the 
inhabitants bringing in their produce to market. 

To prevent this intercourse, the enemy added, to 
the severe exertions of their civil powers, their mili- 
tia. The roads, the creeks, and the general inclina- 
tion of the inhabitants to the British government, and 
to their own profit, aided the endeavour of the Queen's 
Rangers. The redoubt on the right had been garri- 
soned by the corps till, on Major Simcoe's representa- 
tion that the duty was too severe, it was given to the 
line : within this redoubt the corps fitted up their bar- 
racks. The 4th of January was the first day since 
their landing at the head of Elk, that any man could 
be permitted to unaccoutre. 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 35 

There is not an officer in the world who is ignorant, 
that permitting the soldier to plunder, or maraud, 
must inevitably destroy him ; that, in a civil war, it 
must alienate the large body of people who, in such a 
contest, are desirous of neutrality, and sour their 
minds into dissatisfaction : but, however obvious the 
necessity may be, there is nothing more difficult than 
for a commander in chief to prevent marauding. The 
numerous orders that are extant in King Charles' and 
the Parliament's army, prove it in those dreadful 
times ; and the Duke of Argyle, in his description of 
the Dutch auxiliaries, in the year 1715, who, he says, 
" were mighty apt to mistake friend for foe," exempli- 
fies the additional difficulty where foreign troops are 
combined with natives. No officer could possibly feel 
the attention that was necessary to this duty more 
strongly than Major Simcoe, and he thought himself 
warranted to declare, when a general order was given 
out to enforce it, " that it is with the utmost satisfac- 
" tion Major Simcoe believes there would have been 
" no necessity for the general orders of this day, had 
" every corps of the army been as regular, in respect 
" to their abstaining from plunder and marauding, as 
" the Rangers. He trusts, that so truly a military 
" behaviour will be continued ; and that the officer 
" and soldier of the corps will consider it as honour- 
" able to him as the most distinguished bravery." 
Major Simcoe took care to prevent the possibility of 
plunder, as much as lay in his power : he never halt- 
ed, if he could avoid it, but in a wood ; sent safe- 
guards to every house ; allowed no man, in march- 



36 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

ing, to quit his ranks ; and was, in general, success- 
ful in instilling into the minds of the men, that while 
they protected the country, the inhabitants would 
give every information of the enemy's movements and 
ambuscades. The officers were vigilant in their at- 
tention to this duty, and the soldiers had admirable 
examples of discipline and good order, from the na- 
tive loyalists of the corps, who were mostly non- 
commissioned officers. On the contrary, the rebel 
patroles, who came to stop the markets, were con- 
sidered by the country people as robbers ; and pri- 
vate signals were every where established, by which 
the smallest party of the Rangers would have been 
safe in the patrolling the country. The general mode 
that Major Simcoe adopted was, to keep perfectly 
secret the hour, the road, and the manner of his 
march ; to penetrate, in one body, about ten miles 
into the country. This body generally marched in 
three divisions, one hundred yards from each other, 
so that it would have required a large force to have 
embraced the whole in an ambuscade, and either di- 
vision, being upon the flank, it would have been haz- 
ardous for an enemy so inferior in every respect, but 
numbers, as the rebels were, to have encountered it ; 
at ten or twelve miles the corps divided, and ambus- 
caded different roads ; and at the appointed time re- 
turned home. There was not a bye path or ford 
unknown, and the Huzzars would generally patrole 
some miles in front of the infantry. The market peo- 
ple, who over-night would get into the woods, came 
out on the appearance of the corps, and proceeded 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 37 

uninterruptedly, and from market they had an escort, 
whenever it was presumed that the enemy was on the 
Philadelphia side of Frankfort to intercept them on 
their return into the woods. The infantry, however 
inclement the weather, seldom marched less than nine- 
ty miles a week ; the flank companies, Highlanders, 
and Huzzars, frequently more : these marches were, 
by many people, deemed adventurous, and the de- 
struction of the corps was frequently prophesied. 
The detail that has been exhibited, and experience, 
takes away all appearance of improper temerity ; and, 
by these patroles, the corps was formed to that toler- 
ance of fatigue, and marching, which excelled that of 
the chosen light troops of the army, as will hereafter 
be shown. 

These matters have been dwelt upon, not only as 
they exhibit what is conceived to have been the drill- 
ing of the Queen's Rangers for more important ser- 
vices, but, as it proves that the protection of Phila- 
delphia and the opening a way to its markets, were 
provided for by Sir William Howe, and that his orders 
were systematically and industriously obeyed. 

The Huzzars, by this time, were encreased to thirty, 
mounted on such horses as they had taken from the 
enemy ; and Ensign Proctor was added to them. The 
country in front of Philadelphia was foraged, and the 
Queen's Rangers formed the advance guard of the 
parties which made it ; but it was with great reluct- 
ance that Major Simcoe saw Point-no-Point included 
in the general forage, as he had taken particular care 
to preserve it from plunder ; it is impossible to pro- 



38 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

tect any country from the depredations of foraging 
parties. The clothing of the Provincials was served 
by contract ; the duties of the Queen's Rangers would 
have worn out much better ; they were obliged, by 
the inclemency of the weather, to wear the new ones, 
without altering. It being determined, for the next 
year, to cloth the Provincials in red, Major Simcoe 
exerted himself to preserve the Rangers in green, and 
to procure for them green waistcoats : his purpose 
was to wear the waistcoats with their sleeves during 
the campaign, and to add sleeves to the shell, or outer 
coat, to be worn over the waistcoats in winter : green 
is without comparison the best color for light troops 
with dark accoutrements ; and if put on in the spring, 
by autumn it nearly fades with the leaves, preserving 
its characteristic of being scarcely discernable at a 
distance. 

At the end of February, General Wayne having 
been detached from Washington's army to collect 
such cattle as were in the lower Jersies, Sir William 
Howe sent Lieutenant-Colonel Abercrombie down 
the Delaware, to land and attack him, while Colonel 
Stirling with the 42d regiment and the Queen's Ran- 
gers, crossed that river opposite to Philadelphia, and 
marched to Haddonfield, to intercept him ; at the 
same time, a detachment under Colonel Markham 
passed over, and took post at Cooper's ferry, to col- 
lect forage in its vicinity. Colonel Stirling reached 
Haddonfield early in the morning ; some stragglers 
of Wayne's corps had just left it as he arrived there, 
The ground in front of the village was immediately 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 39 

occupied : the Queen's Rangers on the left, with 
their left flank to a creek which nearly extended the 
whole length of their front. A circumstance happen- 
ed here, which, though not unusual in America and 
in the rebel mode of warfare, it is presumed is singu- 
lar elsewhere. As Major Simcoe was on horseback, 
in conversation with Lieutenant Whitlock, and near 
the out sentinels, a rifle was fired, and the ball grazed 
between them ; the ground they were on being higher 
than the opposite bank, the man who had fired was 
plainly seen, running off: Lieutenant Whitlock, with 
the sentinels, pursued him, and the guard followed in 
case of necessity, the piquets occupying their place ; 
the man was turned by Mr. Whitlock, and intercepted, 
and taken by the sentinels. On being questioned, 
" how he presumed to fire in such a manner ?" he an- 
swered, " that he had frequently fired at the Hes- 
" sians, (who a few weeks before had been there,) and 
" thought he might as well do so again." As he lived 
within half a mile of the spot, had he not been taken 
and the patroles pushed there the next day, they 
would have found him, it is probable, employed in his 
household matters, and strenously denying that he 
either possessed, or had fired a gun : he was sent pri- 
soner to Philadelphia. Upon posting the guards, at 
night, they were augmented so as to have the rounds 
every fifteen minutes, and Major Simcoe recommend- 
ed to the officer to be particularly alert, as it was 
reasonable to presume that Wayne, who had been 
surprised by General Grey, could have but two ideas : 
the one of being surprized himself, which the distance 



40 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

prevented ; and the other of retaliation ; which, ha- 
ving secured his convoy and being master of the 
country, there was every reason to apprehend and 
guard against. 

Early the next morning Major Simcoe was detached 
to destroy such boats and stores as were upon Tim- 
ber creek, and which had been conveyed thither when 
the naval armaments on the Delaware were burnt. 
As the boats appeared valuable, and some Refugees 
offered to carry them to Philadelphia, they were ac- 
cordingly directed to fall down the creek ; when for- 
tunately one hundred and fifty barrels of tar, of which 
the fleet was in want, were discovered, and with this 
the boats were laden, and sent to Captain Hammond, 
who commanded the navy in the Delaware. The 
party returned in the evening with some few militia 
as prisoners, who, from their green clothing, had 
mistaken the Rangers for what they attempted to ap- 
pear — Wayne's rear guard. At midnight, Colonel 
Stirling sent for Major Simcoe, who found at his 
quarters one of those Refugees to whom the boats 
had been intrusted : he related, that during their pro- 
gress down the creek, they had been attacked by the 
militia of the country, and that amidst the confusion 
he got ashore, and escaped. Major Simcoe was di- 
rected to march as early as possible, and to quell any 
of the militia who might be there, and to give an op- 
portunity for the Refugees, who most probably had 
concealed themselves in the marshes, to escape. Be- 
fore day-break Major Simcoe surrounded the house 
of Tew, a militia lieutenant, with the Huzzars, and in 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 41 

perfect secrecy and silence lay there until the arrival 
of the infantry : Tew was supposed to have headed 
some of his neighbors in arms, as it was well known 
there was no body of men in the country, and only 
a few inhabitants who could possibly be collected. 
Captain Saunders, with the cavalry and some infantry, 
was sent further down the creek, to procure informa- 
tion. There was nobody in Tew's house but his wife 
and other females ; she was informed, that if her hus- 
band, as was supposed, appeared to be at the head 
of the party, who, contrary to common prudence and 
the rules of war, had fired upon the boats the prece- 
ding night, his house should be burnt, as an example 
to deter others ; at the same time she might have 
assistance to remove her furniture, and to save it in 
an outhouse, for which purpose some Refugees, her 
former neighbors, offered to assist her ; and prepara- 
tions were accordingly making, when Captain Saun- 
ders returned with certain information, that a preda- 
tory party from the shipping at Philadelphia, imagin- 
ing themselves secure from the troops being at Had- 
donfield, had rowed up the creek, and meeting the 
Refugees, they fired upon each other, but the mistake 
being soon discovered, they returned together to the 
Delaware. Tew's house, of course, remained unin- 
jured, and the troops marched back to Haddonfield, 
and early the next morning made an excursion on the 
road to Egg-harbour, to get what cattle and rum (of 
which there was intelligence) might be found on it. 
The advanced part of the corps, and the Huzzars, 
marched about twenty miles from Haddonfield ; a few 
3 



42 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

hogsheads of rum and some cattle were procured, and 
some tobacco destroyed. On the return, and about 
two miles from Haddonfield, Major Simcoe was ob- 
serving to some officers a peculiar strong ground, 
when, looking back, he saw a house that he had pass- 
ed in flames ; it was too far gone for all his endeav- 
ors to save it ; he was exceedingly hurt at the circum- 
stance, but neither threats of punishment, nor offers 
of reward, could induce a discovery : this was the 
only instance of a disorder of this nature that ever 
happened under his command, and he afterwards 
knew it was not perpetrrted by any of the Queen's 
Rangers. At night, a man arrived at the outpost, 
furnished with such credentials as made it proper to 
believe his information : his account was, that Wayne 
was on his march from mount Holly, to attack the 
troops at Haddonfield, and that he intended to make 
a circuit to fall in upon the right ; the man was im- 
mediately forwarded to Colonel Stirling ; and Major 
Simcoe remarked to Captain Saunders, his confiden- 
tial friend, " that probably Colonel Stirling would send 
" for him, and, if any room should be left for consul- 
" tation, his advice would be, that the whole corps 
" should move forward and ambuscade Wayne's march 
" on the strong ground which Major Simcoe had re- 
" marked a few hours before ; that every inhabitant 
" of the town should be secured, and the Huzzars left 
" to take post at the direct roads ; that, upon inform- 
" ation being forwarded to Sir William Howe, Colonel 
" Markham would probably be sent to Haddonfield, 
" and possibly a strong corps embarked, and passed 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 43 

" up the Delaware, above Wayne." Major Simcoe 
accordingly was sent for, but it was to receive direc- 
tions for an immediate retreat : Colonel Stirling un- 
derstanding that the force under Wayne had been so 
considerably augmented, that it would be imprudent 
to remain at Haddonfield ; his business there being 
completed, and his intentions, otherwise, being to re- 
turn the next morning ; the rum was staved, and the 
whole detachment prepared to march immediately. 
In consideration of the fatigue of the Queen's Rang- 
ers, and that there was no probability of any action, 
Major Simcoe solicited to lead the march. In the 
mean time, some of the enemy fired upon the advanc- 
ed posts of the Rangers, and made great noise to 
draw their attention that way : this was a frequent 
mode of the rebels ; it might have been proper at the 
moment of attack, but anticipating it for some hours, 
in general it gave a knowledge of their designs, and 
increased a just and military contempt for this mode 
of conducting them. The night was uncommonly se- 
vere, and a cold sleet fell the whole way from Haddon- 
field to Cooper's ferry, where the troops arrived late, 
and the ground being occupied by barns and forage, 
they were necessitated to pass the coldest night that 
they ever felt, without fire. As dawn arrived, the 
weather cleared up ; about three miles and a half 
from Cooper's ferry, and half a mile within the direct 
road to Haddonfield, there was some forage remain- 
ing ; fifty of the 42d and Rangers, under the command 
of Captain Kerr, were sent as an escort to the wag- 
gons that went for it. Lieutenant Wickham, with 



44 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

ten Huzzars, was directed by Colonel Stirling to 
patrole in his front towards Haddonfield. A few miles 
off, Lieutenant Wickham met the enemy ; he sent in- 
formation to Captain Kerr, and to Colonel Stirling, 
and, with six Huzzars, attended their front. As the 
road led through thick woods, the enemy were ap- 
prehensive of ambuscades, and were intimidated by 
Lieutenant Wickham's frequently calling out, as to 
the infantry, " to halt, not to march so fast," &c. &c, 
so that the enemy's cavalry, though more than two 
hundred, did not rush on him. He gave time to Cap- 
tain Kerr to retreat, then joined and returned to camp 
with him, ushering the enemy to the very outpost. 
The line was formed ; the 42d regiment on the right, 
Colonel Markham's detachment in the centre, and the 
Queen's Rangers on the left. The embarkation still 
proceeded ; the horses were now sent off, and, as the 
enemy did not advance, Colonel Markham's detach- 
ment followed them. It was scarce half way over the 
Delaware, when the piquets were attacked. The en- 
emy were probably induced to attack earlier than they 
intended, by a barn having been accidentally set on 
fire, and which it was reasonable for them to suppose 
might have been done by some lurking person, after 
the troops im general had embarked. Upon the ap- 
pearance of the enemy, the 42d regiment marched 
forward in line, and orders were sent to the Queen's 
Rangers to advance, which it did, in column, by com- 
panies ; Cooper's creek secured its left flank ; the ar- 
tillery horses of the three pounders being embarked, 
the seamen, with their accustomed alacrity, offered to 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 45 

draw on the cannon ; the artillery followed the light 
infantry company, and preceded the battalion. Some 
of the enemy appearing on the opposite bank of the 
Cooper creek, Captain Armstrong, with the grena- 
diers, was directed to march and line a dyke on this 
side : an advantage the enemy had not ; and to keep 
off any stragglers who might be posted there. A 
heavy fire was kept up on the right, by the 42d ; there 
was nothing opposed to the Rangers but some caval- 
ry, watching their motions, and as Major Simcoe ad- 
vanced rapidly to gain an eminence in front, which he 
conceived to be a strong advantageous position, they 
fled into the wood, an officer excepted, who, reining 
back his horse, and fronting the Rangers as they ad- 
vanced, slowly waved with his scimetar for his at- 
tendants to retire ; the light infantry being within 
fifty yards of him, he was called out to, " You are a 
" brave fellow, but you must go away," to which not 
paying so much attention as he ought, M'Gill, after- 
wards quarter master, was directed to fire at him, on 
which he retired into the woods. A few straggling 
shot were fired in the front ; the light infantry com- 
pany was detached there, and supported by the High- 
landers, who soon cleared the front ; the battalion 
halted on the advantageous ground it had moved to- 
wards, and, at the entreaties of the sailors, a few can- 
non shot were fired at a party of the enemy, who were 
near the bridge over Cooper creek, till perceiving they 
were busy in destroying it, they were no longer in- 
terrupted : the firing totally ceased, and the enemy 
retreated. Some few of the Rangers were wounded, 
3* 



46 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

among whom, Serjeant M'Pherson of the grenadiers 
died ; in every respect he was much to be lamented. 
The person whom M'Gill fired at, proved to be Pu- 
laski ; his horse was wounded ; and had not the Huz- 
zars been sent over the Delaware previous to the at- 
tack, he would have been taken, or killed. The em- 
barkation took place without any interruption ; and 
On the 2d of March the Queen's Rangers returned to 
their old quarters, and former duties. Colonel Stir- 
ling made the most handsome and favorable report of 
the behaviour of the corps, to Sir William Howe. 

An expedition was formed under the command of 
the late Colonel Mawhood, consisting of the 27th and 
46th regiments, the Queen's Rangers, and New Jersey 
Volunteers ; they embarked the 12th of March, and 
fell down the Delaware. On the 17th, the Queen's 
Rangers landed, at three o'clock in the morning, about 
six miles from Salem, the Huzzars carrying their ac- 
coutrements and swords. Major Simcoe was direct- 
ed to seize horses, to mount the cavalry, and the 
staff, and to join Colonel Mawhood at Salem ; this 
was accordingly executed. Major Simcoe, making a 
circuit and passing over Lambstone's bridge, arrived 
at Salem, near which Colonel Mawhood landed. The 
Huzzars were tolerably well mounted, and sufficient 
horses procured for the other exigencies of the ser- 
vice : Colonel Mawhood had given the strictest charge 
against plundering ; and Major Simcoe, in taking the 
horses, had assured the inhabitants that they should 
be returned, or paid for, if they did not appear in 
arms, in a very few days ; and, none but officers en- 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 47 

tering the houses, they received no other injury. The 
Queen's Rangers' infantry were about two hundred 
and seventy, rank and file, and thirty cavalry ; Colonel 
Mawhood gave directions for the forage to take place 
on the 18th. The town of Salem lies upon a creek 
of that name which falls into the Delaware nearly op- 
posite Reedy island ; the Aloes, or Alewas creek, 
runs almost parallel to the Salem'creek, and falls into 
the Delaware to the southward of it ; over this creek 
there were three bridges : Hancock's was the lower 
one, Quintin's that in the centre, and Thompson's the 
upper one ; between these creeks the foraging was 
to commence ; the neck, or peninsula, formed by 
them was at its greatest distance seven, and at its 
least four miles wide. The rebel militia was posted at 
Hancock's and Quintin's, the nearest bridges, which 
they had taken up, and defended by breast-works. 
Colonel Mawhood made detachments to mask these 
bridges ; and foraged in their rear : the officer who 
commanded the detachment, consisting of seventy of 
the 17th infantry, at Quintin's bridge, sent information 
that the enemy were assembled in great numbers at 
the bridge, and indicated as if they meant to pass 
over whenever he should quit it, in which case his 
party would be in great danger. Colonel Mawhood 
marched with the Queen's Rangers to his assistance : 
he made a circuit, so as to fall in upon the road that 
led from Thompson's to Quintin's bridge, to deceive 
any patrole which he might meet on his march, and 
to make them believe that he directed it to Thomp- 
son's, not Quintin's bridge. Approaching the bridge, 



48 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

the Rangers halted in the wood, and Colonel Maw- 
hood and Major Simcoe went to the party of the 
17th, but in such a manner as to give no suspicion 
that they were part of a reinforcement ; the ground 
was high, till within two hundred yards of the bridge, 
where it became marshy ; immediately beyond the 
bridge, the banks were steep, and on them the ene- 
my had thrown up breast-works ; there was a public 
house very near the road, at the edge of its declivity 
into the marsh, on the Salem side. Colonel Maw- 
hood asked Major Simcoe, " whether he thought, if 
" he left a party in the house, the enemy would pass 
by it or not ?" who replied, " that he thought they 
" would be too cowardly to do it ; but at any rate 
" the attempt could do no harm, and, if he pleased, 
" he would try." Colonel Mawhood directed Major 
Simcoe to do so, who accordingly profiting by the 
broken ground of the orchard which was behind it, 
and the clothing of his men, brought Captain Ste- 
phenson and his company into the house, undiscover- 
ed : the front windows were opened, and the back 
ones were shut, so that no thorough light could be 
seen ; the women of the house were put in the cellar 
and ordered to be silent ; the door was left open, and 
Lieutenant M'Kay stood behind it, with a bayonet, 
ready to seize the first person whose curiosity might 
prompt him to enter ; the Queen's Rangers were 
brought into the wood near to that part where it end- 
ed in clear ground, and two companies, under Cap- 
tain Saunders, were advanced to the fences at the 
very edge of it, where they lay flat. Colonel Maw- 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 49 

hood then gave orders for the detachment of the 17th, 
who were posted near the house, to call in their sen- 
tinels and retreat up the road in full view of the en- 
emy. This party had scarcely moved, when the en- 
emy laid the bridge and passe.d it ; a detachment of 
them went immediately across the marsh to the 
heights on the left, but the principal party, about two 
hundred, in two divisions, proceeded up the road ; 
Captain Stephenson, as they approached the house, 
could hear them say, " let us go into the house," &c, 
but they were prevented, both by words and by ac- 
tion, by the officer who was at their head : he was 
on horseback, and spurring forward, quitted the road 
to go into the field, on the right, through a vacancy 
made by the rails being taken for fires ; his party still 
proceeded up the road, and the first division passed 
the house : the officer, his sight still fixed on the red 
clothes of the 17th, approached close up to the fence 
where Captain Saunders lay ; he did not immediately 
observe the Rangers, and, it is probable, he might 
not, had he not heard one of the men stifling a laugh : 
looking down he saw them, and galloped off; he was 
fired at, wounded, and taken. The division that had 
passed the house attempted to return : Captain Ste- 
phenson sallied, drove them across the fields, Captain 
Saunders pursued them ; the Huzzars were let loose 
and afterwards the battalion, Colonel Mawhood lead- 
ing them; Major Simcoe directed the 17th back to 
the house, with the grenadiers, and Highlanders of 
the Rangers, ready to force the bridge, if ordered ; 
the enemy, for a moment, quitted it, Colonel Maw- 



50 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

hood thought it useless to pass it. Some of the di- 
vision, who passed the house, were taken prisoners, 
but the greater part were drowned in the Aloes creek. 
The officer, who was taken, proved to be a French- 
man. The Rangers had one Huzzar mortally wound- 
ed ; and what was unfortunate, he was wounded by a 
man, whom in the eagerness of the pursuit he had 
passed, given quarters to, and not disarmed : the vil- 
lain, or coward, was killed by another Huzzar. The 
corps returned to Salem. 

The rebels still occupying the posts at Quintin and 
Hancock's bridge, and probably accumulating, Colonel 
Mawhood determined to attack them at the latter, 
where, from all reports, they were assembled to near 
four hundred men. He entrusted the enterprise to 
Major Simcoe, and went with him and a patrole op- 
posite to the place : the Major ascended a tree and 
made a rough sketch of the buildings, which, by con- 
versing with the guides, he improved into a tolerable 
plan of the place, and formed his mode of attack ac- 
cordingly. He embarked on the 20th, at night, on 
board the flat boats ; he was to be landed at an inlet, 
seven miles below Aloes creek, when the boats were 
immediately to be returned, and by a private road he 
was to reach Hancock's bridge, opposite to which, 
Major Mitchell was detached with the 27th regiment, 
to co-operate with him. Major Simcoe foresaw the 
difficulties, and dangers, but he kept them to himself: 
every thing depended upon surprise. The enemy 
were nearly double his numbers ; and his retreat, by 
the absolute orders to send back the boats, was cut off; 






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OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 51 

but he had just confidence in the silence, attention, 
and spirit of the corps. By some strange error in 
the naval department, when the boats arrived off 
Aloes creek, the tide set so strong against them that, 
in the opinion of the officer of the navy, they could 
not reach the place of their destination till mid-day. 
Major Simcoe determined not to return, but to land 
on the marshes, at the mouth of the Aloes creek ; 
there were good guides with him : they found out a 
landing place, and after a march of two miles through 
marshes, up to the knees in mud and water, labours 
rendered more fatiguing by the carriage of the first 
wooden planks they met with, to form bridges with 
them over the ditches, they at length arrived at a 
wood upon dry land. Here the corps was formed for 
the attack. There was no public road which led to 
Hancock's bridge, but that which the Rangers were 
now in possession of; a bank, on which there was a 
footway, led from Hancock's to Quintin's bridge. 
Hancock's house was a large brick house ; there 
were many store-houses round it, and some few cot- 
tages. Captain Saunders was detached to ambuscade 
the dyke that led to Quintin's bridge, about half a 
mile from the quarters, and to take up a small bridge 
which was upon it, as the enemy would, probably, fly 
that way, and if not pursued too closely, would be 
more easily defeated. Captain Dunlop was detached 
to the rear of Hancock's house ; in which it was 
presumed the rebel officers quartered; directed to 
force it, occupy and barricade it, as it commanded 
the passage of the bridge. Different detachments 



52 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

were allotted to the houses supposed to be the ene- 
my's quarters, which having mastered, they were or- 
dered to assemble at Hancock's ; a party was appro- 
priated to relay the bridge. On approaching the 
place, two sentries were discovered : two men of the 
light infantry followed them, and, as they turned 
about, bayoneted them ; the companies rushed in, 
and each, with proper guides, forced the quarters al- 
lotted to it. No resistance being made, the light in- 
fantry, who were in reserve, reached Hancock's house 
by the road, and forced the front door, at the same 
time that Captain Dunlop, by a more difficult way, 
entered the back door ; as it was very dark, these 
companies had nearly attacked each other. The sur- 
prise was complete, and would have been so, had the 
whole of the enemy's force been present, but, fortu- 
nately for them, they had quitted it the evening be- 
fore, leaving a detachment of twenty or thirty men, 
all of whom were killed. Some very unfortunate cir- 
cumstances happened here. Among the killed was a 
friend of Government, then a prisoner with the reb- 
els, old Hancock, the owner of the house, and his 
brother : Major Simcoe had made particular enquiry, 
and was informed that he did not live at home, since 
the rebels had occupied the bridge. The information 
was partly true ; he was not there in the day-time, 
but unfortunately returned home at night : events 
like these are the real miseries of war. The roads 
which led to the country were immediately ambus- 
caded ; and Lieutenant Whitlock was detached to 
surprise a patrole of seven men who had been sent 



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OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 53 

down the creek: this he effected completely. On 
their refusal to surrender, he fired on them, only one 
escaped. This firing gave the first notice of the suc- 
cess of the enterprise to the 27th regiment ; with so 
much silence it had hitherto been conducted. The 
bridge was now laid ; and Major Simcoe communi- 
cated to Colonel Mitchell, that the enemy were at 
Quintin's bridge ; that he had good guides to conduct 
them thither by a private road, and that the posses- 
sion of Hancock's house secured a retreat. Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Mitchell said, that his regiment was 
much fatigued by the cold, and that he would return 
to Salem as soon as the troops joined. The ambus- 
cades were of course withdrawn, and the Queen's 
Rangers were forming to pass the bridge, when a 
rebel patrole passed where an ambuscade had been, 
and discovering the corps, gallopped back. Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Mitchell, finding his men in high spirits, 
had returned, purposing to march to Quintin's bridge : 
but being informed of the enemy's patrole, it was 
thought best to return. Colonel Mawhood, in public 
orders, " returned his best thanks to Major Simcoe 
" and his corps, for their spirited and good conduct 
" in the surprise of the rebel posts." Two days af- 
ter, the Queen's Rangers patrolled to Thompson's 
bridge ; the enemy, who had been posted there, were 
alarmed at the approach of a cow the night before, 
fired at it, wounded it, and then fled ; they also aban- 
doned Quintin's bridge, and retired to a creek, six- 
teen miles from Aloes creek. Major Simcoe, making 
a patrole with the Huzzars, took a circuit towards 
4 



54 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

the rear of one of the parties sent out to protect the 
foragers : a party of the enemy had been watching 
them the whole day, and unluckily, the forage being 
completed, the detachment had just left its ground 
and was moving off; the enemy doing the like, met 
the patrole : were pursued, and escaped by the pass- 
age which the foragers had just left open. One only 
was taken, being pursued into a bog, which the Huz- 
zars attempted in vain to cross, and were much mor- 
tified to see above a dozen of the enemy, who had 
passed round it in safety, within a few yards : they 
consisted of all the field officers and committee-men 
of the district. The prisoner was their adjutant. 
The enemy, who were assembled at Cohansey, might 
easily have been surprised ; but Colonel Mawhood 
judged, that having completed his forage with such 
success, his business was to return, which he effected. 
The troops embarked without any accident, and sail- 
ed for Philadelphia. The horses were given back to 
the inhabitants, or paid for. On the passage, the 
ships waiting for the tide, Major Simcoe had an op- 
portunity of landing at Billing's port, where Major 
Vandyke's corps was stationed, and examining it, they 
arrived at Philadelphia, March the 31st. The patroles 
of the Rangers were made systematically as ever, on 
their return ; but as spring approached, the enemy's 
cavalry came nearer to the lines, and owed their es- 
cape, more than once, to the fleetness of their horses : 
one or two of them who were taken were decorated 
with eggs, women's shoes, &c. &c. that they had rob- 
bed the market people of, and, in that dress, were 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 55 

paraded through the street to prison. Several loyal- 
ists were in arms, under the command of Mr. Tho- 
mas, their Captain; and, with Hovenden's, and 
James's troops of Provincials, made excursions into 
the country ; and at Newton, many miles from Phil- 
adelphia, they brought off a large quantity of cloth- 
ing ; whenever they made an excursion, the Queen's 
Rangers pushed forward to bring them off. One 
morning, about two o'clock, Major Simcoe, marching 
to support them in an attempt they were to make on 
Smithfield, met them about a mile from Philadelphia ; 
they said, they had been repulsed : judging it neces- 
sary to support the advantages derived from the dis- 
tance to which they made their excursions, he made 
enquiries into the matter, and found their accounts so 
various, that he determined to march to Smithfield, 
and accordingly took such of them with him as were 
not weary, for guides. His ideas were, that the par- 
ty at Smithfield would probably be reinforced by ano- 
ther which was in its vicinity, and that he might pos- 
sibly surprise them rejoicing at their success : at any 
rate, the recoil would add to the ascendancy neaessa- 
ry to be maintained in the country. The Queen's 
Rangers marched to Smithfield, but found no enemy 
there ; and, it appeared, that they had also fled, hav- 
ing exchanged some shots with the Refugees. Mr. 
Washington drew his supplies of fat cattle from New 
England : a drove, of this kind was met about thirty 
miles from Philadelphia, between the Delaware and 
Schuylkill, by a friend of Government, who passed 
himself upon the drivers for a rebel commissary, then 



56 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

billetted them at a neighbouring farm, and immediate- 
ly gallopped to Philadelphia, from whence a party of 
dragoons were sent for the cattle : the Queen's Rang- 
ers advanced forward to Chesnut hill, and the brigade 
of guards were posted at Germantown ; the whole 
drove was safely conducted to Philadelphia. Major 
Simcoe, as was his custom, with the Huzzars, patrol- 
led in front, and took a minute survey of the ground, 
at Barren-hill church, which was near proving of con- 
sequence in the event. 

A very great desertion happened from Washington's 
army this winter, which, had it not been difficult to 
effect, probably, would have been universal; the 
Queen's Rangers were benefited by it ; Captain Arm- 
strong's company of grenadiers, in size, youth, and 
appearance, was inferior to no one in the army. 
There were many reports, that Mr. Lacy, the rebel 
General of the Pennsylvania militia, was collecting 
them, professedly to impede the country people's in- 
tercourse with the markets. Major Simcoe, besides 
employing his own intelligence, applied to Lieutenant- 
Colonel Balfour, who so successfully managed these 
matters, during the army's being at Philadelphia, for 
what he could furnish him with ; and represented that 
it would be of the utmost consequence, to attack Lacy 
the* moment he broke into the circle of country, which 
we had hitherto maintained possession of. In conse- 
quence of this conversation, he was sent for by Colo- 
nel Balfour, some time after, and informed, that Lacy's 
corps were to assemble at the Crooked Billett, twenty- 
five miles from Philadelphia, on the first of May* 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 57 

Major Simcoe was anxious that they should be at- 
tacked on that night ; and from the maps of the 
country arranged the plan, which was approved of. 
The main road led, past the Billett, to Philadelphia 
from York ; at less than half a mile from it, on the 
Philadelphia side, there was another, that led to 
Washington's camp, by Horsham meeting. Major 
Simcoe proposed, that he should march with the 
Rangers, and, by a circuit, get to the road in the rear 
of the Billett ; and that a detachment should march 
and ambuscade themselves in a wood, (the intelli- 
gencer said there was one adapted to the purpose,) 
on the road which led by the Horsham meeting-house 
to Washington's camp ; this party was to remain in 
ambuscade till they heard the firing of the Queen's 
Rangers. It was supposed, that if the surprise should 
not be complete, the ambuscade would render the 
success perfectly so, by supporting the Rangers if 
they were checked, and by intercepting the enemy 
if they attempted to retreat, which, probably, would 
be towards their army. Colonel Balfour proposed 
two hundred light infantry to go ; to this Major Sim- 
coe said, " that they would be commanded by older 
" officers in the line, and yet of inferior local rank to 
" himself, and that it was his wish, on that account, 
" to avoid giving umbrage ;" the result was, Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Abercrombie was chosen, and marched 
with a large detachment of the light infantry, and 
with one of cavalry, and horses to mount part of his 
infantry-men, for greater expedition. Major Simcoe's 
march was a difficult one : he thought it necessary 
4* 



58 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

to make many circuits to avoid places where he sus- 
pected the enemy had posts, or patroles. He was 
admirably guided; and, luckily, had information, 
about twilight, that prevented him from committing 
a serious error: the armed Refugees, as Captain 
Thomas, their commander, informed him, were sent 
by Mr. Galloway, to convey in some of his furniture ; 
they adventured out, hearing of the expedition by 
some means or other, and marched up the roads 
which the Rangers had so carefully avoided, but 
without meeting any interruption, or alarm ; luckily, 
they passed a house, which Major Simcoe called at, 
or he would, certainly, when he overtook them, have 
mistaken them for rebels : they were directed to keep 
themselves undiscovered ; and the Rangers marched 
on so fast as possible. Although day light appeared, 
Major Simcoe was under no apprehensions of disco- 
very, and certain of Colonel Abercrombie's having 
met with no accident, as the parties must have been 
within the hearing of each other's fire. He had now 
arrived at the point, where he quitted the road, in or- 
der to make his last circuit to reach the Billett, pro- 
fiting by the covert that the irregularities of the ground 
would have afforded, and was informing the officers 
of his plan of attack, to be guided by circumstances, 
(Captain Kerr's division excepted, who was to force 
Lacy's quarters, and barricade them for a point to 
rally at, in case of misadventure,) when a few shot 
were heard. Major Simcoe immediately exclaimed, 
" the dragoons have discovered us ;" so it was. Co- 
lonel Abercrombie, although assisted by horses, could 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 59 

not arrive at his post at the appointed time, before 
day-break ; anxious to support Major Simcoe, he 
detached his cavalry, and mounted light infantry, 
to the place of ambuscade. The officer who com- 
manded, patrolled to Lacy's out-post, and, being fired 
at by the rebel sentinels, did not retire ; Lacy, of 
course, did, and collecting his force, began a retreat 
up the country : in this situation, the Rangers arrived 
nearly in his rear, upon his right flank ; they stopped 
and turned some smaller parties who were escaping 
from the light infantry, and who were killed, but the 
main body retreated in a mass, without order, and by 
no efforts could the infantry reach them: unfortu- 
nately, the Huzzars of the Rangers were left at Phila- 
delphia, their horses having been fatigued by a long 
course of duty, and a severe patrole the day before : 
thirty dragoons, who were with the Rangers, were 
sent to intercept the baggage waggons, and staid to 
guard them. As the enemy were marching through 
a wood, Major Simcoe gallopped up to the edge of 
it, and summoned them to surrender ; they were in 
great consternation, but marched on ; he then gave 
the words of command, " make ready," " present," 
" fire," hoping that the intervening fence and thickets 
between him and them might lead them to suppose 
he had troops with him, and that they might halt, 
when a few moments would have been decisive : at 
the word " fire " they crouched down, but still moved 
on, and soon got out of all reach. A few men of the 
Rangers were wounded, as was the horse of Wright, 
Major Simcoe's orderly Huzzar ; and Captain M'GilPs 



60 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

shoe-buckle probably saved the foot of that valuable 
officer : the enemy had fifty or sixty killed, and taken. 
The troops returned to Philadelphia. The comman- 
der in chief ordered the baggage to be sold, for their 
benefit ; it produced a dollar a man. The guides of 
the Queen's Rangers computed their march at fifty- 
eight miles ; not a man was missing. This excursion, 
though it failed in the greater part, had its full effect, 
of intimidating the militia, as they never afterwards 
appeared, but in small parties, and like robbers. 

As the spring approached, the hopes of the army 
were pointed to an attack on Valley Forge : the sur- 
mise gave Major Simcoe particular pleasure ; he had 
formerly been quartered in the house that was Wash- 
ington's head quarters, and had made himself minutely 
master of the ground about it, and particularly, of 
those undulations which are so material in all attacks 
against batteries, and from all the plans and descrip- 
tions of Valley Forge, it appeared to him probable, 
that an attack would commence in this point. These 
hopes vanished, when the news of Sir William Howe's 
recall reached Philadelphia, together with the orders 
for the army's abandoning that city. Mr. Washing- 
ton's ignorance, however, exposed him to a check, 
from which his usual good fortune extricated him. 
He passed a corps, under the direction of the Mar- 
quis de La Fayette, over the Schuylkill; arrange- 
ments were made to cut it off ; a column made a 
circuit for that purpose, under General Grant, the 
Queen's Rangers led it, and Major Simcoe was or- 
dered to march at the rate of two miles an hour : this 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 61 

slow and tiresome pace was too quick to keep the 
column properly compacted, and he was frequently 
obliged to halt; nearly at day-light, a subaltern's 
party of dragoons were ordered to the front. Soon 
after a rebel patrole appeared, and while the young 
officer was deliberating what to do, got off; the co- 
lumn moved on, and arriving at three cross roads, the 
advance was directed to halt, there being some doubt 
which was the proper road. General Grant arrived, 
and immediately directed him to march on ; the co- 
lumn was too late, the alarum guns were fired from 
Washington's camp, and Fayette had moved off from 
Barren-hill church, and passed the Schuylkill; the 
cavalry being detached in a fruitless pursuit of him, 
the Huzzars went with them, and Lieutenant Wick- 
ham compared a party of the rebels, whom he saw 
fording the Schuylkill, to the corks of a fishing seine. 
As the time approached for the army's quitting 
Philadelphia, patroles were passed over the Delaware, 
from the Jersies; one of which, after a long chase, 
was taken by the Huzzars. The Quarter Master 
General being in great want of horses, Major Simcoe 
escorted the commissaries who were sent to procure 
them : he entered upon the office with great regret, 
as they were to be taken from people whom he had 
uniformly protected. The enemy had some strong 
parties in the country. The whole corps made a long 
march, in four divisions, as has been before explained ; 
he had also a three pounder, that had been lately 
attached to his corps. On his return he was ambus- 
caded, near the Bristol side of Penny-pack bridge : 



62 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

the first division passed the bridge with the cannon, 
and immediately formed on the opposite banks, as 
Major Simcoe was apprehensive of some attack ; its 
position secured the march of the successive divisions. 
It was afterwards known, that the enemy were in 
force, but were deterred from attacking by the posi- 
tion of the first division, and the order of march. 

Sir Henry Clinton, when he took the command of 
the army, directed Lord Rawdon to raise a corps of 
Irish volunteers ; and Captain Doyle, of the 55th regi- 
ment, was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel. Major Sim- 
coe waited upon the commander in chief, and request- 
ed, that as he was Captain Doyle's senior in the army, 
he would be pleased to make him so in the Provin- 
cial line, adding, that if his Excellency, at any future 
time, should appoint a senior officer of the line, to a 
Provincial command, Major Simcoe, of course, could 
have no objection that he should have superior rank 
in the Provincials. Sir Henry Clinton was pleased to 
refer his request to Sir William Erskine, and General 
Paterson, the Quarter-Master and Adjutant General, 
who, reporting that it was just, Sir Henry Clinton ap- 
pointed him to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel ; and, 
to avoid similar inconveniences, antedated his com- 
mission to all Provincial Lieutenant-Colonels. The 
procuring the horses was the last service that the 
Queen's Rangers performed in Pennsylvania. Embark- 
ing, and passing over ito Cooper's ferry, on the 17th 
of June, 1778, Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe observed, 
in public orders, " that he doubted not but that all 
" ranks of the regiment were sensible that the un- 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 63 

" daunted spirit which had rendered them the terror 
" of their enemies, was not more honourable to them 
"than that abhorrence of plunder which distinguishes 
" the truly brave from the cowardly ruffian, and which 
"had left a favourable impression of the Queen's 
" Rangers on the minds of such of the inhabitants of 
" Pennsylvania as had been in their power ; he assured 
"himself, that, as they were to pass over to the Jersies, 
" they would, in every respect, behave as became the 
" character the corps had acquired, and which marks 
" the disciplined soldier. He gave orders, that the 
" Captains and officers, commanding companies, 
" should march in the rear of their respective divisions, 
"till such time as more active duties required their 
" presence elsewhere, and should be answerable that 
" no soldier quitted his rank on any pretence, but par- 
" ticularly to drink : this practice having been the death 
" of many a valuable soldier, the permission of it was 
"highly criminal." The 18th, the Queen's Rangers, 
being part of General Leslie's division, marched to 
Haddonfield ; on the 19th to Evesham ; the Yagers 
being in front, there was a slight skirmish, in which 
the rebel party lost some men, and one of them being 
taken proved to be a British deserter, who was exe- 
cuted the next day. The army encamped at Mount 
Holly, the 20th and 21st ; they marched to the Black 
Horse the 22d ; the Queen's Rangers formed the ad- 
vance. By an error of the guides, at a cross road, 
they were pursuing the wrong one, a rebel officer 
called out to them, " You are wrong, you are wrong," 
but the corps passing by without heeding him, and 



64 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

afterwards taking the nearer way across the fields into 
the right road, in which he was, the advanced men 
got within a few yards of him, undiscovered ; Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Simcoe prevented them from firing, 
but called to him to keep at a greater distance, which 
he did. The 23d, the army marched to Crosswicks, 
the Queen's Rangers forming the advance of the left 
column. Hitherto there were no interruptions on this 
march but from a bridge, the boards of which had 
been taken up, but laid within a few yards, so that they 
were easily replaced. Approaching Crosswicks, abody 
of the enemy appeared; Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe 
took the flanking party, under Lieutenant Wilson, and 
tried to cut them off before they could pass the creek 
at that place. He was too late for this purpose, but 
in time to prevent them from executing their design 
of cutting down the trees which stood close to the 
bridge, and throwing them across it ; the enemy had 
taken up the planks, and were posted behind a wood, 
on the opposite bank. Captain Stephenson's company 
of light infantry, were directed, by the commander in 
chief in person, to the same post, on the left that 
Lieutenant Wilson had occupied. Lieutenant-Colonel 
Simcoe, on his return, formed his corps behind the 
meeting-house, ready to pass the bridge ; the dragoons 
arrived, and dismounted, lining the fences on the right, 
and Lieutenant M'Leod, of the artillery, bringing up 
his three pounders, and being fully exposed to the en- 
emy, in case they had kept their position, it was de- 
termined to pass the bridge upon its rafters, which 
was affected without opposition. The enemy had fled 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 65 

from the wood, and a party on the right, which the 
Queen's Rangers made every effort to pursue, escaped ; 
nor were the rest of the advanced troops more suc- 
cessful who followed the body which retreated on the 
left. Captain Stephenson, exerting himself with his 
usual gallantry, became an object to a person, said to 
be a quaker ; who fired at him with a long fowling- 
piece, and dangerously wounded him ; the escape of 
the commander in chief, distinguishable by his dress 
and activity to an enemy posted in security and in- 
tended to fire a single and well aimed shot, was very 
remarkable. The Queen's Rangers, and some other 
troops, remained posted beyond the creek ; the army 
did not pass the bridge : there were events here worth 
recording. Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, in conversa- 
tion with Captain Armstrong, happened to mention, 
that he was fully convinced of the truth of what an 
English military author had observed, that a number 
of firelocks were, in action, rendered useless, by be- 
ing carried on the shoulders, from casual musket-balls, 
which could not be the case were the arms carried in 
the position of the advance ; he added, that advanced 
arms, certainly, gave a compactness, and took off the 
appearance of wavering from a column more than any 
other mode of carrying them. Captain Armstrong 
had assented, and took occasion to exemplify it now, 
by advancing the arms of his grenadier company 
when under fire, and while he led over the rafters of 
the bridge. 

The sluices had been shut, by which means the 
water was ponded ; Lieutenant Murray plunged in, 
5 



66 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

thinking it fordable, but finding it not so, he swam 
over, and got behind a tree before the corps passed 
the bridge, and was between both fires ; luckily he 
escaped unhurt. Hitherto the march of the army 
pointed equally to Trenton, or Cranberry ; it now, 
on the 24th of June, took the route to the latter, by 
marching to Allentown : the Queen's Rangers formed 
the advance of the column. The bridge at Allen- 
town, over a small rivulet, was taken up, and Colonel 
Simcoe fired two or three cannon shot, which drove a 
small party of the enemy from thence, and he passed 
over without the exchange of a musket, one of which 
might, unnecessarily, deprive him of a valuable offi- 
cer, or soldier. Passing forward, a rebel patrole from 
the Cranberry road, came close to the front of the 
Rangers, mistaking them for their own people ; they 
retired into a wood, which, as soon as the army halt- 
ed, a party scoured, but to no purpose. Lieutenant- 
Colonel Simcoe had a book, in which was inserted 
the names of every soldier in his corps, the counties 
in which they were born, and where they had ever 
lived, so that he seldom was at a loss for guides in his 
own corps ; he had also many Refugees with him, 
who served as guides. The commander in chief ask- 
ed him, whether he had any guides ? he answered, he 
had none who knew any of the roads to Brunswick ; 
that the chief of his guides was born at Monmouth. 
Sir Henry Clinton directed him to be sent to head 
quarters, as he might be useful in procuring intelli- 
gence, though not serviceable as a guide ; this was 
done, and as soon as the army marched he came for 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 67 

two soldiers of the regiment, natives of Monmouth 
county : this was the first idea which Lieutenant- 
Colonel Simcoe had of the army's being intended to 
march elsewhere than to South Amboy. An altera- 
tion in the disposition of the army took place ; it 
marched in one column : the Yagers made the rear ; 
the Queen's Rangers, light infantry, and dragoons, 
followed in succession. The army halted at the Ris-^ 
ing Sun ; the enemy's light troops appeared in greater 
force in the rear. On the arrival at the camp, Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Simcoe immediately passed a deep 
hollow that separated it from a high hill, with the 
Huzzars, in order to observe the ground in front, as 
was his constant custom ; two men came out of the 
wood to Lieutenant Wickham, who was patrolling, 
deceived by his green clothes ; he gave into the de- 
ception, passed himself upon them for a rebel parti- 
san, and introduced Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe to 
them as Colonel Lee. One of the men was very glad 
to see him, and told him that he had a son in his 
corps, and gave him the best account of the move- 
ments of the rebel army, from which, Lieutenant- 
Colonel Simcoe said, he had been detached two days ; 
the other proved to be a committee-man of New 
Jersey; they pointed out the encampment of the 
British army, and were completely deceived, till, hav- 
ing told all they knew, and on the party returning, 
the committee-man having asked, " I wonder what 
" Clinton is about ?" " You shall ask him yourself," 
was the answer, " for we are British." 

The army marched the next morning toward Mon- 



68 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

mouth, in the same order ; and it now became evi- 
dent, that Sir Henry Clinton intended to embark 
from Sandy Hook. There was some skirmishing be- 
tween the Yagers and the enemy ; and one time, it 
having the appearance of being serious, the Rangers 
were divided into two divisions, to march on each 
flank of the Yagers, who, having no bayonets, might 
have suffered from an intrepid enemy ; but the con- 
trary was the case, as the alarm originated from a 
shout that Captain Ewald, who commanded the rear 
guard, set up on the enemy's approach, which with 
other preparations, sent them away upon the full run. 
Upon the arrival at Monmouth, the Queen's Rangers 
covered head quarters ; the army halted the next 
day, and foraged. 

On the morning of the 27th, the Queen's Rangers 
marched, at two o'clock, and occupied the post from 
which the second battalion of light infantry were 
drawn, to march with the second division, under Ge- 
neral Kniphausen : a great extent of ground was to 
be guarded, and the whole corps lay upon their arms. 
In the morning, about seven o'clock, orders were 
brought to Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, " to take his 
" Huzzars and try to cut off a reconnoitring party 
" of the enemy, (supposed to be M. Fayette,) who 
" was upon a bald hill, and not far from his left." As 
the woods were thick in front, Lieutenant- Colonel 
Simcoe had no knowledge of the ground, no guide, 
no other direction, and but twenty Huzzars with him ; 
he asked of Lord Cathcart, who brought him the or- 
der, whether he might not take some infantry with 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 69 

him, who, from the nature of the place, could advance 
nearly as expeditiously as his cavalry ? to this his 
Lordship assenting, Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe im- 
mediately marched with his cavalry, and the grena- 
dier company, consisting of forty rank and file. He 
had not proceeded far, before he fell in with two rebel 
Videttes, who, gallopping oft', the cavalry were order- 
ed to pursue them, as their best guides ; they fled on 
the road down a small hill, at the bottom of which 
was a rivulet ; on the opposite rising, the ground was 
open, with a high fence, the left of which reached the 
road, and along which, a considerable way to the 
right, a large corps was posted. This corps immedi- 
ately fired, obliquely, upon the Huzzars, who, in their 
pursuit of the Videttes, went up the road, and gained 
their left, when Ellison, a very spirited Huzzar, leapt 
the fence, and others followed. Lieutenant-Colonel 
Simcoe, in the mean time, brought up the grenadiers, 
and ordered the Huzzars to retreat ; the enemy gave 
one universal fire, and, panic struck, fled. The Baron 
Stuben, who was with them, lost his hat in the confu- 
sion. Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe rode along the 
fence, on the side opposite to which the enemy had 
been, posting the grenadiers there ; the enemy fired 
several scattering shots, one of which wounded him 
in the arm : for some seconds, he thought it broken, 
and was unable to guide his horse, which, being also 
struck, run away with him, luckily, to the rear ; his 
arm soon recovering its tone, he got to the place 
where he had formed the Huzzars, and with fourteen 
of them, returned towards a house, to which the right 
5* 



70 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

of the enemy's line had reached. Upon his left flank 
he saw two small parties of the enemy ; he gallopped 
towards them, and they fled : in this confusion, seeing 
two men, who, probably, had been the advance of 
these parties, rather behind the others, he sent Ser- 
jeant Prior, and a Huzzar, to take them, but with 
strict orders not to pursue too close to the wood. 
This the Serjeant executed; and, after firing their 
loaded muskets at the large body which had been dis- 
lodged and was now rallying, the prisoners were oblig- 
ed to break them, and to walk between the Huzzars 
and the enemy. The business was now to retreat, 
and to carry off whomsoever might be wounded in 
the first attack. The enemy opposite seemed to in- 
crease, and a party, evidently headed by some general 
officer, and his suit, advancing, to reconnoitre : it 
suggested to Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, to endeav- 
our to pass, as on a similar design ; and, for this pur- 
pose, he dispatched a Huzzar to the wood in his rear, 
to take off his cap, and make signals, as if he was re- 
ceiving directions from some persons posted in it. 
The party kept moving, slowly, close to the fence, 
and towards the road ; when it got to some distance 
from the house, which has been mentioned, Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Simcoe called out audibly, as if to a 
party posted in it, " not to fire till the main body came 
" close," and moved on slowly parallel to the enemy, 
when he sent Ryan, an Huzzar, forward, to see if 
there were any wounded men, and whether the gre- 
nadiers remained where he had posted them, adding, 
" for we must carry them off or lie with them ;" to 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 71 

which the Huzzar replied, " to be sure, your honour" 
Oil his return, and reporting there was nobody there, 
Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe struck obliquely from the 
fence, secured by a falling of the ground from danger, 
over the brook to the wood, where he found Captain 
Armstrong had, with great judgment, withdrawn his 
grenadiers ; from thence he returned to camp, and 
sending his prisoners to the General, went himself to 
the baggage, his wound giving him excruciating pain, 
the day being like to prove very hot, and there not 
appearing the least probability of any action. Two 
Huzzars, and three of the infantry, were wounded in 
this skirmish ; one of the Huzzars died at Monmouth 
after the action ; the other, who was able to have 
marched, was left by the Hospital, and fell into the 
hands of the enemy. It is obvious that, of all de- 
scriptions of people, the Rangers were the last who 
should have been left as prisoners, since so many de- 
serters from the enemy were in the corps : the soldiers 
had the utmost reliance upon their own officer's atten- 
tion to this particular. The enemy who were defeat- 
ed, consisted of that corps of Jersey militia which in 
General Lee's trial, is said " to have given way," by 
the evidence of the field officer who brought up fresh 
troops and cannon to support it ; they were those de- 
tachments, which Sir Henry Clinton's letter says, 
" the Queen's Rangers fell in with among the woods, 
" and dispersed," and who, probably, as Washing- 
ton's account says, " were the Jersey militia, amount- 
" ing to about seven or eight hundred men, under the 
" command of General Dickenson." They were 



72 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

destined to attack the baggage, but made no other 
attempt that day. 

The American war shows no instance of a larger 
body of men discomfitted by so small a number. The 
army saw not the combat ; but every officer, every 
soldier, heard the heavy fire, and from that could 
form a judgment of the enemy's number. Lieutenant- 
Colonel Simcoe afterwards heard a person who was 
of this body call the grenadier's company, to use his 
own expression, " a power of Hessians." Captain 
Ross took the command of the corps. He was de- 
tached, with the light infantry, under Colonel Aber- 
crombie, to turn the enemy's left ; went through the 
whole fatigue of that hot day, and though the corps 
had been under arms all the preceding night, it here 
gave a striking and singular proof of the vast advan- 
tages of the Philadelphia marches, by not having a 
man missing, or any who fell out of the ranks through 
fatigue. Captain Ross had an opportunity of more 
than once showing great military judgment and intre- 
pidity, in checking different parties of the enemy ; 
and the Highland company in particular, distinguished 
itself, under the command of Captain M'Kay, in co- 
vering a three pounder of the light infantry battalion, 
which was impeded by a swamp. At night, when the 
army marched off, Captain Ross, with that silence 
which was remarked in Washington's account of the 
action, formed the rear guard. During the day, the 
baggage was not seriously attacked ; but some very 
small parties ran across it, from one side of the road 
to the other : one of these Captain Needham, and 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 73 

Lieutenant Cooke of the 17th dragoons, (since Cap- 
tain of the Queen's Rangers,) dispersed ; the rumors 
of them, however, added personal solicitude to Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Simcoe's public anxiety, and, for se- 
curity, he got together the pioneers of his own and 
some other corps around his waggon. The uncer- 
tainty of what fate might attend his corps, and the 
army, gave him more uneasiness than he ever expe- 
rienced ; and, when the baggage halted, he passed an 
anxious night, till about the middle of it, when he had 
authentic information of the events. The army en- 
camped at Middleton, the 29th and 30th. On the 1st 
of July, Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe resumed his com- 
mand, and marched, to escort Sir William Erskine to 
Sandy Hook. The army remained in this vicinity 
till the 5th, when it marched to Sandy Hook also : 
this peninsula had been made an island by the storms 
of the preceding winter ; a bridge of boats was thrown 
across the channel, over which the army passed, the 
Queen's Rangers excepted, who, forming the rear 
guard, embarked in boats from the Jersey side, as 
soon as the bridge was broken up. It is remarkable, 
and what few other corps in the army could say, that 
in this march the Queen's Rangers lost no men, by 
desertion. They landed at New York, marched up 
to Morris's house, and encamped there. 

Soon after, the troops returned from Philadelphia, 
it appearing probable to Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, 
that America would be quitted by the British forces, 
and the war carried on in the West Indies ; he ap- 
plied to Colonel Drummond, (then aid-du-camp,) to 



74 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

make the request from him to Sir Henry Clinton, that 
he might be permitted, with his corps, and other loy- 
alists, to join the Indians and troops under Colonel 
Butler, who had just been heard of on the upper parts 
of the Delaware. The Commander in Chief's answer 
to him was, " that he much applauded his spirit, but 
" that he would find sufficient employment for him 
" with his army." He had digested the detail of his 
route ; his mode of subsistence, and operations : the 
idea he entertained, of what such a junction might 
have led to, was, and is still, unbounded. Lieutenant- 
Colonel Simcoe was ill in New York, and did not 
join till the 14th, during this period, nothing material 
happened. On the 15th, the Queen's Rangers, and 
Emmerick's corps, encamped outside Kingsbridge ; 
the three Provincial troops of Hovenden, James, and 
Sandford, also joined the Queen's Rangers : an Amu- 
zette, and three artillery men, were now added to the 
three pounder attached to the regiment. The post 
was of great extent, liable to insult, and required many 
sentinels : it was strengthened as much as possible ; 
and, in all matters of labor, the soldiers worked with 
the greatest energy, under the inspection of their offi- 
cers, and were easily made to comprehend, not only 
the general security, but the benefit which they, indi- 
vidually, received from their works, by its operating 
to lessen their duties; of course, they were taught 
that the work should not be slighted. Mr. Washing- 
ton's army encamping at the White Plains, the Ya- 
gers, and Queen's Rangers, had full employment. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe was ever averse to pa- 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 75 

troles, except, as in the case at Philadelphia, where 
they served to cover a well affected country, and 
were made systematically, and in force ; or to ascer- 
tain some precise object ; circumstanced as the armies 
now were, they appeared to him to be particularly 
dangerous, and totally useless. The inclinations of 
the Americans, though averse from tactical arrange- 
ment, had always been turned to patrolling, in their 
antiquated dialect, scouting : the Indians, their origi- 
nal enemies, and the nature of their country, had 
familiarized them to this species of warfare, and they 
were, in general, excellent marksmen. There was 
nothing, either in the American generals or their 
troops, that could warrant a belief, that they would 
make a serious attempt upon Kingsbridge ; added to 
the strong works within the island, the eminences in 
front of it were covered with a chain of redoubts 
within a distance from each other, barely more than 
necessary to secure the flanks of a battalion ; and in- 
deed, for the purpose of protecting a weak army, 
they had been originally constructed ; half a mile in 
front of these redoubts, lay the light troops, to secure 
them from surprise, so that it was manifest any gen- 
eral move of Mr. Washington's army could not take 
place for so small an object, as that of beating up the 
huts of a light corps. Washington's advance corps 
lay on the heights, near Tuckahoe, under the com- 
mand of General Scott, to the amount of two thou- 
sand men, whose light troops occupied a line from 
Phillip's creek, on the north, to New Rochelle, on the 
East river* Small patroles frequently came to Wil- 



76 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

Ham's bridge, on the Brunx, and sometimes, General 
Scott came, in force, to Valentine's hill. The coun- 
try between was irregular, intersected with woods, 
and so broken and covered with stone walls, as to be 
most liable to ambuscades : the inhabitants were, by 
no means, to be trusted, and, in general, so harrassed 
by their country being the seat of war, that it was 
not reasonable to place any confidence in them ; on 
the other hand, the Queen's Rangers had many of the 
natives of the country among them, and Lieutenant- 
Colonel Emmerick's corps was, in a great measure, 
composed of them. Lieutenant- Colonel Simcoe made 
a few patroles, in force, merely to inform himself of 
the situation of the country ; but he spared no pains 
to acquire an account of what posts the enemy occu- 
pied, at night; his determination being to attack 
them, whenever he saw a fit opportunity. Generals 
Clinton and Morgan, with a corps of fifteen hundred 
men, covered the forage of the country, on the side of 
the enemy. Colonel Wurmb, and Lieutenant-Colonel 
Simcoe, upon intelligence, had agreed to meet on 
Valentine's hill, one morning, in force, and, accord- 
ingly, Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, with his Huzzars, 
was upon the hill, waiting for him; the infantry, and 
Provincial cavalry, were left in the plain, under the 
command of Captain Ross ; the light infantry and 
Highland companies being ambuscaded in an orchard, 
at the place where the roads fork to Hunt's bridge, 
and Valentine's hill. Colonel Wurmb, finding the 
enemy in force at Phillip's, did not choose to move 
to Valentine's hill, and sent the Yager cavalry to 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 77 

give the Rangers the necessary information. At the 
same time the enemy appeared advancing to Valen- 
tine's hill. As Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe was quit- 
ting it, to return to his corps, Lieutenant M'Nab, of 
the Huzzars, who had been sent withapatrole beyond 
the Brunx, confirmed the intelligence which he had 
been furnished with the night before, that a strong 
body, with cannon, was approaching to Hunt's bridge, 
on the opposite side of the Brunx : this bridge was 
commanded by the heights on the side of Kingsbridge, 
which had been fortified by the rebels in 1776 ; their 
works were not demolished. In their rear was a 
wood ; it had been designed to conceal the Rangers ; 
and, while the Yagers and cavalry should have enga- 
ged with any corps who might patrole to Valentine's 
hill, it was thought probable, that the enemy on the 
opposite side of the Brunx would pass it to their 
assistance, when the corps in ambuscade was to rush 
from the wood, and, occupying the fleches, do severe 
and cool execution upon them, as they were on the 
bridge, and occupied in the deep hollow. An advanc- 
ed party of the enemy, notwithstanding the circum- 
stances which made the troops quit Valentine's hill, 
had already passed the Brunx; the Yager cavalry 
were ordered to proceed towards Kingsbridge, slowly, 
and in full sight of the enemy, who were on Hunt's 
hill. There were still hopes, by forming the ambus- 
cade, to do some service ; when, to Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel Simcoe's great surprise, the enemy's cannon were 
fired at the infantry, whom he expected to have been 
hidden from their sight, by the intervention of the 
6 



78 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

woods: but, it appeared, that while Captain Ross 
was with the advanced companies, some officers im- 
prudently had got upon a fence, out of curiosity, and 
discovered themselves to the enemy. Lieutenant- 
Colonel Simcoe immediately withdrew his men out 
of the reach of any chance shot, and made use of the 
low ground (the crossing of which would have led 
him into the ambuscade) to march his infantry under 
its cover, out of their sight, or the reach of their can- 
non ; he sent orders to Captain Ross to withdraw, and 
again ambuscaded the cavalry, in a position to take 
advantage of the enemy, if any party of them should 
pursue him, or from Valentine's hill should en- 
deavour to incommode his retreat. Observing 
the movement of the Yager cavalry, the enemy 
marched a party to watch their motions, on the 
opposite bank, while their main body formed the line. 
Captain Ross thought proper to wait for the party 
which had passed the Brunx. He permitted them to 
come close to him, when his fire threw them into con- 
fusion. He then retreated, making a small circuit to 
avoid some riflemen who had occupied the wood ; the 
corps returned to their camp. The grand guard was 
constantly advanced in the day-time to a height, from 
whence it had a view of the passage over the Brunx, 
at William's bridge ; at night it was withdrawn. Lieut. 
Colonel Simcoe being on duty at New- York for a day, 
Captain Ross, in visiting the piquet at night, found 
the sentinels so ill placed, that he ordered Sergeant 
Kelly and two huzzars to patrole forwards for its securi- 
ty ; they passed a few hundred yards only from the post, 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 79 

when they were surrounded by a party who lay be- 
tween two stone walls, and taken ; nor was Captain 
Ross to be blamed for ordering the patrole, but the 
Captain of cavalry, who had omitted a principal 
sentinel : this patrole made, in contradiction to Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Simcoe's principles, was the only one 
that had been taken under his command : the Sergeant 
having been in the rebel service, forced thereto by all 
want of work, was thrown into prison and threatened 
with death; Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe offered a 
Sergeant whom he had lately taken, in exchange for 
him ; and threatning to leave to the mercy of his sol- 
diers the first six rebels who should fall into his hands, 
in case of Kelly's execution, soon obtained his release. 
July the 18th Captain Lord Cathcartwas appointed 
Colonel, and on the 1st of August Captain Tarleton, 
Lieutenant-Colonel of the Legion : Captain Hovenden 
and James's troops were incorporated in that corps. 
Captain Ross was appointed to the rank of Major of 
the Queen's Rangers. Lord Cathcart joined the light 
troops at Kingsbridge, and took the command of them. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe having information that 
three distinct patroles of thirty men each, set out early 
in the morning from General Scott's camp at the same 
time, by different roads, proposed to his Lordship to 
ambuscade them, on a supposition that they had orders 
to assist each other in case of necessity ; to which his 
Lordship assenting, the infantry of the Queen's Ran- 
gers marched and occupied a wood two miles in front 
of Kingsbridge, and Lord Cathcart, with the cavalry 
of the Rangers, Legion, and Emmericks, lay half a 



80 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

mile in the rear, from whence he sent out a patrole, 
which passing by a road on the right of the Rangers, 
advanced a quarter of a mile in its front, and return- 
ed. On its return, Lord Cathcart began firing to at- 
tract the enemy's notice, a party of whom crossed the 
country, and came near to the Queen's Rangers, but 
passed no further, and, after firing into the wood, to 
the right of the ambuscade, marched off; this patrole 
had approached, as was expected, on hearing the fir- 
ing, and would inevitably have been taken, but, as it 
afterwards appeared, a girl, from a garret window, 
had seen some of the soldiers on their march to the 
wood, and gave the enemy intelligence. 

Lt. Colonel Simcoe was much affected at Lord 
Cathcart's having the rank of Colonel of Provin- 
cials, and made, in consequence of it, application to 
the Commander in Chief; Sir Henry Clinton, though 
he waved for the present the giving Lt. Colonel Sim- 
coe rank of Lord Cathcart, offered to him that 
of Colonel, which he respectfully (but as the event 
has proved most unfortunately) declined : every mo- 
tive that he had to solicit this rank, by Lord Cath- 
cart's being employed on other duties, was done away, 
and Lt. Colonel Simcoe remained at Kingsbridge, in 
command of his corps, Lt. Col. Emmerick's, and the 
cavalry of the Legion. In Lt. Col. Tarleton, he had 
a colleague, full of enterprise and spirit, and anxious 
for every opportunity of distinguishing himself. 
These officers, when making observations on the 
country in front, had a very singular and narrow es- 
cape, as they were patroling with a few Huzzars. 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 81 

The Stockbridge Indians about sixty in number, ex- 
cellent marksmen, had just joined Mr. Washington's 
army. Lt. Gol. Simcoe was describing a private road 
to Lt. Col. Tarleton : Wright, his orderly dragoon, 
alighted and took down a fence of Devou's farm yard, 
for them to pass through ; around this farm the 
Indians were ambuscaded ; Wright had scarce 
mounted his horse, when these officers, for some 
trivial reason, altered their intentions, and, spurring 
their horses, soon rode out of sight, and out of reach 
of the Indians. In a few days after, they had certain 
information of the ambuscade, which they so fortu- 
nately had escaped : in all probability, they owed 
their lives to the Indians' expectations of surrounding 
and taking them prisoners. Good information was 
soon obtained, by Lt. Col. Simcoe, of General Scott's 
situation, and character ; and he desired Sir William 
Erskine would lay before the Commander in Chief 
his request, that he would permit the York Volunteers 
to join him, for a week ; that, during that time, he 
might attack Scott's camp : he particularly named the 
York Volunteers, as he wished to unite the Provin- 
cials in one enterprise ; unfortunately, that regiment 
could not be spared, as it was ordered for embarka- 
tion. Scott soon altered his position ; and the source 
of intelligence, relative to him, was destroyed. 

The rebels had, in the day time, a guard of cavalry, 
near Marmaroneck, which was withdrawn at night : 
it was intended to cover the country, and protect some 
sick horses, turned into the salt marshes in the neigh- 
bourhood ; Lt. Col. Simcoe determined to attempt its 
6* 



82 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

surprisal ; General Scott's camp was not above three 
miles from it ; and, in case of alarm, he had a shorter 
march to intercept the party, at Eastchester bridge, 
than it had to return there. The troops, consisting 
of the Queen's Rangers, and the cavalry of the Le- 
gion, marched at night ; at Chester bridge, Captain 
Saunders, an officer of great address and determina- 
tion, was left in ambuscade in a wood, with a detach- 
ment of the Rangers, and in the rear of the post that 
the enemy would, probably, occupy, if they should 
attempt to cut off the party in its retreat. His di- 
rections were, to remain undiscovered; to let all 
patroles pass ; and, in case the enemy should post 
themselves, to wait until the party, upon its return, 
should be engaged in forcing the passage, and then to 
sally upon their rear. The troops continued their 
march, passing the creek, higher up, with the greatest 
silence ; they went through fields, obliterating every 
trace of their passage when they crossed roads, to 
avoid discovery from disaffected people, or the ene- 
my's numerous patroles. When they arrived at their 
appointed station, Lt. Col. Tarleton, with the cavalry, 
ambuscaded the road, on which the enemy's guard 
was to approach ; Lt. Col. Simcoe occupied the cen- 
tre, with the infantry, in a wood, and Major Ross was 
posted on the right, to intercept whomsoever Lt. Col. 
Tarleton should let pass. Two or three commissa- 
ries, and others, who were on a fishing party, were 
taken. At six o'clock, as he was previously ordered, 
Lt. Col. Tarleton left his post, when the party of the 
enemy instantly appeared in his rear: they owed 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 83 

their safety to mere accident. The information that 
both the old and new piquet of the enemy generally 
arrived at this post at five o'clock, was true ; a horse, 
belonging to a Serjeant, breaking loose, the officer 
chose to wait till it was caught, and this delayed them 
for a full hour. Three dragoons, who had previously 
advanced to a house within the ambuscade, were now 
taken, and about thirty or forty lame or sick horses. 
The troops, followed at a distance by the rebel dra- 
goons, returned home without any accident. Scott, 
upon the alarm, ordered off his baggage ; and Wash- 
ington sent cannon, and troops, to his assistance, and 
put his army under arms. Captain Saunders permit- 
ted two patroles to pass, having effectually concealed 
his party. The prisoners said, that, two mornings 
before, General Gates had been there fishing. 

Lt. Col. Simcoe, returning from head quarters, the 
20th of August, heard a firing, in front, and being in- 
formed that Lt. Col. Emmerick had patrolled, he im- 
mediately marched to his assistance. He soon met 
him retreating; and Lt. Col. Emmerick being of 
opinion the rebels were in such force, that it would be 
adviseable to return, he did so. Lt. Col. Simcoe un- 
derstood that Nimham, an Indian chief, and some of 
his tribe, were with the enemy ; and by his spies, who 
were excellent, he was informed that they were highly 
elated at the retreat of Emmerick's corps, and appli- 
ed it to the whole of the light troops at Kingsbridge. 
Lt. Col. Simcoe took measures to increase their be- 
lief ; and, ordering a day's provision to be cooked, 
marched the next morning, the 31st of August, a small 



84 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

distance in front of the post, and determined to wait 
there the whole day, in hopes of betraying the enemy 
into an ambuscade : the country was most favourable 
to it. His idea was, as the enemy moved upon the 
road which is delineated in the plan as intersecting 
the country, to advance from his flanks ; this move- 
ment would be perfectly concealed by the fall of the 
ground upon his right, and by the woods upon the 
left ; and he meant to gain the heights in the rear of 
the enemy, attacking whomsoever should be within by 
his cavalry and such infantry as might be necessary. 
In pursuance of these intentions, Lt. Col. Emmerick, 
with his corps, was detached from the Queen's Rang- 
ers, and Legion ; as, Lt. Col. Simcoe thought, fully 
instructed in the plan ; however, he, most unfortu- 
nately, mistook the nearer house for one at a greater 
distance, the names being the same, and there he 
posted himself, and soon after sent from thence a 
patrole forward, upon the road, before Lt. Col. Sim- 
coe could have time to stop it. This patrole had no 
bad effect, not meeting with any enemy : had a single 
man of it deserted, or been taken, the whole attempt 
had, probably, been abortive. Lt. Col. Simcoe, who 
was half way up a tree, on the top of which was a 
drummer boy, saw a flanking party of the enemy ap- 
proach. The troops had scarcely fallen into their 
ranks, when a smart firing was heard from the Indians, 
who had lined the fences of the road, and were ex- 
changing shot with Lt. Col. Emmerick, whom they 
had discovered. The Queen's Rangers moved rapidly 
to gain the heights, and Lt. Col. Tarleton immediately 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 85 

advanced with the Huzzars, and the Legion cavalry : 
not being able to pass the fences in his front, he made 
a circuit to return further upon their right ; which 
being reported to Lt. Col. Simcoe, he broke from the 
column of the Rangers, with the grenadier company, 
and, directing Major Ross to conduct the corps to the 
heights, advanced to the road, and arrived, without 
being perceived, within ten yards of the Indians. 
They had been intent upon the attack of Emmerick's 
corps, and the Legion ; they now gave a yell, and fired 
upon the grenadier company, wounding four of them, 
and Lt. Col. Simcoe. They were driven from the 
fences ; and Lt. Col. Tarleton, with the cavalry, got 
among them, and pursued them rapidly down Court- 
land's-ridge : that active officer had a narrow escape ; 
in striking at one of the fugitives, he lost his balance 
and fell from his horse ; luckily, the Indian had no 
bayonet, and his musket had been discharged. Lt. 
Col. Simcoe joined the battalion, and seized the 
heights. A Captain of the rebel light infantry, and a 
few of his men, were taken ; but a body of them, 
under Major Stewart, who afterwards was distinguish- 
ed at Stony Point, left the Indians, and fled. Though 
this ambuscade, in its greater part, failed, it was of 
consequence. Near forty of the Indians were killed, 
or desperately wounded ; among others, Nimham, a 
chieftain, who had been in England, and his son ; 
and it was reported to have stopt a larger number of 
them, who were excellent marksmen, from joining 
General Washington's army. The Indian doctor was 
taken ; and he said, that when Nimham saw the gre- 



86 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

nadiers close in his rear, he called out to his people 
to fly, " that he himself was old, and would die there ;" 
he wounded Lt. Col. Simcoe, and was killed by 
Wright, his orderly Huzzar. The Indians fought 
most gallantly ; they pulled more than one of the 
cavalry from their horses ; French, an active youth, 
bugle-horn to the Huzzars, struck at an Indian, but 
missed his blow; the man dragged him from his 
horse, and was searching for his knife to stab him, 
when, loosening French's hand, he luckily drew out a 
pocket-pistol, and shot the Indian through the head, 
in which situation he was found. One man of the 
Legion cavalry was killed, and one of them, and two 
of the Huzzars, wounded. 

Colonel Gist, who commanded a light corps of the 
rebels, was posted near Babcock's house, from whence 
he made frequent patroles. Lt. Colonel Simcoe had 
determined to attack him ; when, a deserter coming 
in, at night, who gave an accurate account of his 
position, the following morning was fixed upon for 
the attempt. General Kniphausen, who commanded 
at Kingsbridge, approved of the enterprize, and 
ordered a detachment of the Yagers to co-operate in 
it; Lt. Col. Emmerick undertook to lead the march, 
having, in his corps, people who were well acquainted 
with the country. The following disposition was 
made. Emmerick's infantry, followed by the Queen's 
Rangers, were to march through the meadows on the 
side of Valentine's hill, opposite Courtland's-ridge, 
and pass between the rebel sentries to Babcock's 
house, when they would be in the rear of Gist's en- 



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OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 87 

campment, which they were immediately to attack ; 
Lieut. Col. Tar le ton, with the whole of the cavalry, 
was to proceed to cover the right, and arrive at Val- 
entine's hill by daylight ; a detachment of Yagers, 
under Captain Wreden, were to march on Courtland's 
ridge, and to halt opposite to Gist's encampment ; 
and a larger detachment of Yagers, under Major 
Pruschank, were, at the same time, to be ready to 
force Phillip's bridge, then to proceed to the bridge 
opposite Babcock's house, and to cut off the enemy's 
retreat by that road. The signal for these divisions' 
moving on was to be the noise of storming Gist's 
encampment. Lt. Col. Emmerick conducted the 
march in so able a manner, and the whole corps fol- 
lowed with so much silence, that the enemy's sentinels 
were passed without alarm, and this division gained 
the heights in the rear, and could see the whole chain 
of sentinels walking below them. Major Ross was 
detached to possess himself of Post's house, to pre- 
serve a communication with Lt. Col. Tarleton, on 
Valentine's hill ; the remainder of the Rangers inclined 
to the right, towards Gist's camp, and Lt. Col. Em- 
merick was directed to secure the saw-mill road. 
Firing soon began ; and it was apparent from Lt. 
Col. Emmerick's quarter, whom the enemy had dis- 
covered. Lt. Col. Simcoe immediately moved rapidly 
into the road, and directly up the steeps to the enemy's 
camp, as a nearer way than through the thickets ; he 
attained it, and, to his great surprize, found that 
Major Pruschank had not forced Phillip's bridge, as 
had been intended, but had crossed and joined Captain 



88 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

Wreden on Courtland's-ridge, and that Colonel Gist 
had escaped through the passage which had been so 
unaccountably left open. Lt. Col. Tarleton fell in 
with a patrole of cavalry, and dispersed it ; and the 
Queen's Rangers, as soon as they got possession of 
Gist's camp, having ambuscaded themselves, took a 
patrole which came forward on hearing the firing. 
The troops set fire to Gist's huts, and returned to 
their camp. Soon after, Mr. Washington quitted the 
White-plains ; and Lt. Col. Simcoe was not a little 
gratified at the country people, among other reasons, 
attributing this measure to the continual checks which 
his light troops had received. The next day, he pa- 
troled so near as to be certain of the enemy having 
decamped. Soon after, patroling again to that spot, 
Lt. Col. Tarleton, who was in front, sent to inform 
Lt. Col. Simcoe that he understood there was a 
piquet of the enemy two miles off to the right of the 
White-plains, and desired that he would send a party 
to the Plains to watch that quarter, while he galloped 
on to the enemy's post. Lt. Col. Simcoe went him- 
self to the White-plains, and observed and sketched 
the inaccessible ground which Mr. Washington had 
occupied, in 1776, and which hitherto had not been 
visited by any British officer ; Lieut. Col. Tarleton, 
soon after, returned ; he had put the enemy's piquet 
to flight, and taken some prisoners. 

Colonel (now Sir Archibald) Campbell advanced, 
the latter end of September, with the 71st regiment 
and the light troops, to Milesquare, where, soon after, 
M ijor-General Grant, with a larger force, occupied 




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Ei xpla nation 

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OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 89 

the ground, from the Brunx, at Hunt's bridge, to the 
North river. The Provincial troops, consisting of 
the Queen's Rangers, Delancey's, Emmerick's, and 
Legion cavalry, under Lieut. Col. Simcoe, were on 
the right, beyond the Brunx, and formed a flying camp 
between that and Chester creek : as this corps was 
liable to be struck at, it seldom encamped two days 
and nights in the same place, and constantly occupied 
a strong position. Their patroles, crossing the 
country, together with the Yagers, who were on the 
left, effectually covered the camp. An ambuscade 
was laid by Colonel Lee, for the Yager patroles, 
which, in part, was successful. General Grant, wish- 
ing to retaliate upon the enemy, an attempt was made 
to surprize a post at Hammond's house ; the Provin- 
cial troops were to make a circuit to gain its rear, 
and the Yagers were to approach to the front. After 
a very fatiguing and long march, the party gained 
their position, but the enemy had gone off. On the 
return to camp, Lieutenant Colonel Simcoe met 
General Grant, and requested, that, as the corps 
under his command was severely fatigued and inca- 
pable of exertion, he might pass the Brunx, and lie 
within the guards of the line. The General assented : 
nor was it useless, for the next day, when they 
returned to their former position, Major Ross made 
a patrol, and brought certain intelligence that a large 
body of the enemy's infantry, pressing horses, had 
approached the post, at night, within two miles, 
intending to attack it. 
7 



90 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

Earl Cornwallis, being foraging near the English 
neighborhood, in the Jerseys, it was thought easy, 
whilst his lordship pushed a body of militia, who 
were watching his motions in front, to intercept their 
retreat by passing a corps over the North river ; for 
this purpose, Colonel Campbell, with the 71st and 
Queen's Rangers, were ordered to embark from 
Phillip's ' house ; they arrived there, and waited for 
the boats from New- York, which did not come, or 
land them till three hours after the appointed time. 
However, the enemy had changed their position, and 
Colonel Campbell joined General Grey, who had just 
surprised Baylor's dragoons ; his troops being fresh, 
he offered his services to penetrate further into the 
country, and to collect what cattle he could ; which 
being done, the detachment recrossed the river, and 
returned on the evening to their several encampments. 
It requires great skill, and still greater attention, to 
adapt the movements of any embarkation in boats to 
the tides and shoals of rivers : this was the second 
expedition mentioned in this Journal, which might 
have failed, from the want of such knowledge, or of 
attention in its execution. 

General Grant, being to embark for the West- 
Indies, was so well satisfied with the Queen's Rang- 
ers, that he told Lt. Col. Simcoe, if he could get Sir 
Henry Clinton's permission, he would readily take 
him, and his corps, among the number of chosen 
troops destined for that service. This kind and gen- 
erous offer, could not but be highly agreeable to him, 
and to the officers of the Queen's Rangers, and noth- 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 91 

ing could have made them decline it, but a conviction 
that it would not be just in them to the many very 
valuable native Americans who were among their 
non-commissioned officers, and soldiers ; Lieut. Col. 
Simcoe, therefore, respectfully declined this very ad- 
vantageous offer, and the certainty of British rank 
which must have resulted from it. Major Ross went 
upon the expedition as Brigade-Major, and Lt. Col. 
Simcoe was deprived of the assistance of his valuable 
friend, as his country was, too soon, of the services 
of this gallant officer, he being unfortunately killed at 
St. Christopher's. Captain Armstrong was appointed 
Major in his room. Lieut. Col. Simcoe, Captain in 
the 40th, which regiment went with General Grant, 
was permitted to remain in the Rangers, by a very 
honourable distinction which the Commander in Chief 
was pleased to make, in public orders. The army, 
soon after, returned to York island ; and the Rangers 
fell back nearer to the redoubts. 

Captain Beckwith, (now Major), aid-du-camp to 
General Kniphausen, procured intelligence of the 
strength, and of the views of the enemy's advanced 
corps ; and he informed Lieut. Col. Simcoe, that 
Colonel Armand lay in a situation easily to be sur- 
prized. In a few days, some deserters came in : upon 
their arrival, Captain Beckwith examined them, and 
sent them on to head quarters at New- York. Lieut. 
Col. Simcoe, went immediately to New York, to get 
the deserters, as guides ; unfortunately, they had en- 
listed in the Legion, and been sent to Long-island, 
where that corps, having left Kingsbridge, was quar- 



92 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

tered. Their information was, that one sentry was 
posted by each house, that Armand had neither 
videtts nor piquets, and that his horses were unsad- 
dled during the night, and in different stables. 

Before the troops went into winter quarters, it was 
necessary, that sufficient boards should be procured 
to hut those who were to remain in the vicinity of 
Kingsbridge, and the light troops were of the parties 
who collected them. Lt. Col. Simcoe proposed to 
General Tryon, who commanded the British, to take 
down Ward's house, and the buildings in its vicinity ; 
and that, while a covering party should halt there, 
he would attempt to surprise Colonel Thomas, a very 
active partizan of the enemy, and a post of dragoons, 
nearly twenty miles beyond it. General Tryon ac- 
quiesced in the proposal, and directed it to be put in 
execution, but seemed very doubtful, whether so 
wary a person as Thomas could be circumvented. 
Lt. Col. Simcoe marched all night, with Emmerick's 
and the Queen's Rangers, and surrounded Thomas's 
house by day-break. He never lay at home before 
that night, and had done so in consequence of 
the British troops, in general, being gone into winter 
quarters, and one of his own spies being deceived, 
and made to believe that the Queen's Rangers were 
to march to Long island. One shot was fired from 
the window, which, unfortunately, killed a man, by 
the side of Lt. Col. Simcoe ; the house was immedi- 
ately forced, and, no resistance being made, the offi- 
cers shut the doors of the different rooms, to prevent 
the irritated soldiers from revenging their unfortunate 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 93 

comrade : the man, who fired was the only person 
killed; but Thomas, after Lt. Col. Simcoe had per- 
sonally protected him and ensured his safety, jumped 
out of the window, and, springing over some fences 
would have certainly escaped, notwithstanding most 
of Emmerick's riflemen fired at him, had not an 
Huzzar leapt after him and cut at him with his sword, 
(which he crouched from and luckily escaped,) when 
he surrendered. The cavalry proceeded on to the 
enemy's piquet, at a mile distance. They had been 
alarmed by the firing, and were formed ; they fired 
their carbines (by which Captain Ogden, of Emmer- 
ick's was wounded) and fled : they were pursued, 
but to no purpose. The troops returned to General 
Tyron, who was, in person, at Ward's house, and 
who was much pleased at this mischievous partizan's 
being taken. This march was above fifty miles. 

The season had been, for some time, dreadfully 
inclement, and was severely felt by the troops en- 
camped on the exposed heights of Kingsbridge ; it 
was, therefore, with great pleasure, that Lieut. Col. 
Simcoe received orders to march for winter quarters 
to Oyster bay, in Long island, where he arrived on 
the 19th of November. As it was understood that 
this village was to be the winter cantonment of the 
corps, no time was lost in fortifying it ; the very next 
day, the whole corps was employed in cutting fascines. 
There was a centrical hill, which totally commanded 
the village, and seemed well adapted for a place of 
arms ; the outer circuit of this hill, in the most ac- 
cessible places, was to be fortified by sunken fleches, 
7* 



94 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

joined by abatis, and would have contained the 
whole corps ; the summit was covered by a square 
redoubt, and was capable of holding seventy men ; 
platforms were erected, in each angle, for the field 
pieces, and the guard-house, in the centre, cased and 
filled with sand, was rendered musket proof, and 
looped so as to command the platforms, and surface 
of the parapet ; the ordinary guard, twenty men, 
were sufficient for its defence. Some of the militia 
assisted, in working, one day, when Sir William 
Erskine came to Oyster bay, intentionally to remove 
the corps to Jericho, a quarter the Legion was to quit 
in order to accompany him to the east end of the 
island. Lt. Col. Simcoe represented to him, that in 
case of the enemy's passing the sound, both Oyster 
bay and Jericho were at too great a distance from 
any post to expect succor, but that the latter was 
equally liable to surprize as Oyster bay, that its being 
farther from the coast was no advantage, as the enemy, 
acquainted with the country, and in league with the 
disaffected inhabitants of it, could have full time to 
penetrate, undiscovered, through the woods, and, 
that the vicinity of Oyster bay to the sea coast would 
enable him to have a more watchful eye over the 
landing places, and to acquire a knowledge of the 
principles of the inhabitants in these important situa- 
tions ; and that provisions from New York might be 
received by water. Sir William Erskine was pleased 
to agree with Lt. Col. Simcoe ; and expressed him- 
self highly satisfied with the means that had been 
taken to ensure the post; and, on his representation, 




rs 

Wuzzars. 

Col. Simcoe's 0ua7"ters. 

to occup/ their JPostJl'c, 




A, ftcdoubt ... . D. Quarters 

K.Fleches „ as forte feedSytAe ofthvkuzzar.s. 

C Quarter* *eperately forcif/ed. QUEENS RAWOERS. ¥,.Lieut.Col.Srmcoes0uartera. 

The Zines of Marck marA tfte rout of the different Companies, m ike case ofAlarrA to occupy theirJ?08t£t> 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 95 

the corps was permitted to remain in its present can- 
tonments. There was a small garrison at Lloyd's 
neck, within twelve miles of Oyster bay : a feint, in 
case of attack, would serve to have kept this post 
within its redoubts. The nearest cantonment was at 
Jamaica, where the British grenadiers lay ; this was 
almost thirty miles from Oyster bay. The New- 
England shore was not more than twelve, and in many 
places but seven or eight miles over ; and there were 
many favourable landing places within a mile or two 
of Oyster bay. The enemy could raise any number 
of men for such an expedition ; General Parsons lay, 
with some regular troops, in the vicinity, and there 
were whale-boats sufficient to carry two-thousand 
men, who, in three hours, might attack the conton- 
ment. The situation was an anxious one, and required 
all the vigilance and system of discipline to prevent 
an active enemy from taking advantage of it. Every 
separate quarter was loop-holed, and surrounded with 
abatis in such a manner that it could not be forced. 
A house was moved, bodily, to the rear, near to the 
beach, where the Highland and Grenadier companies 
were quartered. A general plan of defence was cal- 
culated for the whole ; and proper orders were given, 
in case of attack. Patroles were frequently made ; 
the friendly inhabitants were on the watch, and some 
depredations having been committed, convalescent 
soldiers, of good characters, were sent to lodge in the 
houses of those of the vicinity who chose it ; and sig- 
nals were appointed to be made by the country peo- 
ple, in case any plunderers were out, on which, senti- 



96 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

nels were to be placed on each barrack, and the rolls 
immediately called ; by these, and other precautions, 
marauding was effectually prevented : since the con- 
clusion of the war, Lieut. Col. Simcoe has had the 
satisfaction of hearing, that his precautions were not 
in vain, for that, more than once, an attack on Oyster 
bay was meditated, and laid aside. 

There being little probability of the Queen's Rang- 
ers recruiting, notwithstanding the exertions of the 
parties on that service, while much greater bounties 
were given, by regiments now raising, than Govern- 
ment allowed the Provincials, it was, in public orders, 
recommended to the consideration of the officers, 
" whether a strict soldier-like, and honourable cecon- 
" omy, which their present situation would admit of, 
" might not enable them, by adding to the bounties 
" allowed by Government, to recruit their companies, 
" and give them opportunities of acting in a wider 
" sphere at the commencement of the next campaign, 
" which, from every appearance, was like to be most 
" active ?" The officers subscribed liberally to the 
recruiting fund. The Commander in Chief intend- 
ing to augment the Huzzars of the Queen's Rangers, 
to a troop of fifty, or more, Lt. Col. Simcoe applied, 
through Sir William Erskine, that Lieut. Wickham 
should be captain; Lieut. M'Nab lieutenant; Quar- 
ter-master Spencer, of the 16th dragoons, cornet ; 
and Serjeant Spurry, of the same regiment, quarter- 
master. That regiment had been drafted, and Lt. Col. 
Simcoe, with his utmost solicitations, could not pro- 
cure the Quarter-master, or a single dragoon from the 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 97 

corps. The regular and methodical mode of dress- 
ing, and feeding the horses, was the point of service 
that the troop wished to be instructed in, by the regu- 
lar dragoons. The situation at Oyster Bay was 
extremely well calculated to secure the health of the 
soldiery ; the. water was excellent ; there was plenty 
of vegetables, and oysters to join with their salt pro- 
visions, and bathing did not a little contribute, with 
the attention of the officers to cleanliness, to render 
them in high order for the field, nor were they without 
sufficient exercise : the garrison in New-York being 
in great want of forage, Oyster Bay became a central 
and safe deposit for it, and frequent expeditions, to- 
wards the eastern and interior parts of the island, 
were made to enforce the orders of the Commander 
in Chief in this respect ; excursions were, also fre- 
quently made to execute other orders, relative to the 
intercourse with the inhabitants of the rebel coast, and 
to escort messengers, &c. between Sir William Er- 
skine, who commanded on the east end of the island, 
and Jamaica. Lt. Whitlock, having a perfect know- 
ledge of the country about Norwalk, proposed to 
burn the whale-boats, which were harboured there, 
and had infested the sound, and taken several of the 
wood and provision vessels ; he was immediately dis- 
patched to the Commander in Chief, to lay his pro- 
posals before him. Sir Henry Clinton, at this period, 
did not think it advisable to put Lieut. Whitlock's 
plan in execution. The officers of the Queen's 
Rangers always understood, that whatever plans they 
might ofier for the good of the King's service, would 



98 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

be patronised, and fairly represented to the Comman- 
der in Chief, by the Lieutenant-Colonel, that they 
might reap the fruit of their own exertions. The 
corps had constantly been exercised in the firing mo- 
tions, and the charging with bayonets, upon their 
respective parades ; as the season opened, they were 
assembled together : they were,, particularly, trained 
to attack a supposed enemy, posted behind railing, 
the common position of the rebels ; they were in- 
structed not to fire, but to charge their bayonets with 
their muskets loaded, and, upon their arrival at the 
fence, each soldier to take his aim at their opponents, 
who were then supposed to have been driven from 
it ; they were taught that, in the position of running, 
their bodies afforded a less and more uncertain mark 
to their antagonists, whose minds also must be per- 
turbed by the rapidity of their approach with undis- 
charged arms. The light infantry, and Huzzars, 
were put under the direction of Captain Saunders, 
who taught them to gallop through woods, and acting 
together, the light infantry learnt to run, by holding 
the horses' manes ; the cavalry were, also, instructed, 
as the infantry lay flat upon the ground, to gallop 
through their files. The grand divisions were exer- 
cised in the manual, and firing motions, by their 
respective commanders, but they were forbidden to 
teach them to march in slow time, they were " to pay 
" great attention to the instruction of their men in 
" charging with their bayonets, in which case, the 
" charge was never to be less than three hundred yards, 
" gradually increasing in celerity from its first outset, 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 99 

" taking great care that the grand division has its 
" ranks perfectly close, and the pace adapted to the 
" shortest men. The soldier is, particularly, to be 
" taught, to keep his head well up, and erect : it is 
" graceful, on all occasions, but absolutely necessary 
u if an enemy dare stand the charge ; when the Brit- 
"ish soldier, who fixes with his eye the attention of 
" his opponent, and, at the same instant, pushes with 
" his bayonet without looking down on its point, is 
" certain of conquest." When the weather permit- 
ted, the corps was frequently exercised together, par- 
ticularly in occupying ground, on the supposition of 
the enemy's landing to attack the post ; they were 
shown how to make, and navigate rafts, constructed 
on the simplest principles, and with the slightest ma- 
terials. 

On the 18th of April, a party of Refugees went 
from Oyster Bay, being furnished with arms, agree- 
able to an order from head quarters, to take the 
Generals Parsons and Silliman from the opposite 
shore. They did not risk the attack on General Par- 
sons, but they brought Brigadier Silliman to Oyster 
Bay : he was sent, the next day, to New-York. 

Lt. Col. Simcoe had been directed towards the 
centre of the island, to enquire into a supposed inter- 
course held with Connecticut; he had the Huzzars, 
and some infantry, with him. The weather was in- 
clement, and the troops occupied two or three differ- 
ent houses : such precautions were taken as the quar- 
ters would admit of. At night, the advance sentinel, 
on the Lieutenant-Colonel's quarters, fired. The 



100 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

man was questioned ; he persisted, that he challenged 
three or four men, with arms : though he was a steady 
soldier, it appeared so improbable, that any enemy 
could be in Long Island, that he was not credited. 
It was afterwards known, that a party of twenty men 
had been concealed there, in hopes to take some offi- 
cer, for near three weeks, and that could they have 
surprised Lt. Col. Simcoe's quarters, it was meant to 
have attacked them. 

On the 2d of May, the Commander in Chief was 
pleased to signify, in general orders, to the Provincial 
troops, " that his Majesty, anxious to reward their 
" faithful services, and spirited conduct, upon several 
" occasions, has been pleased to confer upon them the 
" following marks of his Royal favour." The articles 
were then enumerated, and were all material to that 
service : the principal were : " That the officers of 
" Provincial corps shall rank as juniors of the rank to 
" which they belong, and if disabled in service, should 
" be entitled to the same gratuity as officers of the 
" established army ; and, to distinguish the zeal of 
" such regiments as shall be completed, his Majesty 
" will, upon the recommendation of the Commander 
"in Chief, make the rank of those officers permanent 
" in America, and will allow them half-pay, upon the 
"reduction of their regiments, in the same manner as 
" the officers of the British reduced regiments are 
" paid." In consequence of this order, the Queen's 
Rangers were recommended by the Commander in 
Chief, and styled, and numbered, as the first Ameri- 
can regiment : the doubt whether they came under the 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 101 

letter of the description, as they were not at present 
actually complete, was graciously explained, by his 
Majesty, in their favour, as they had formerly been 
so ; the New-York Volunteers, and the Volunteers of 
Ireland, were, at the same time, placed upon this 
establishment. 

The Queen's Rangers, consisting of three hundred 
and sixty, rank and file, in great health and activity, 
left their cantonments on the 18th of May, and, by 
a given route, arrived at Kingsbridge, and encamped 
there on the 27th, and formed the advance of the 
right column of the army, which marched from thence, 
on the 29th, to a position extending from Phillip's 
house to East Chester heights ; Sir William Erskine 
commanding the cavalry, and light troops, he en- 
camped, with a division of the line, and the light troops, 
on the 1st of May, at Dobb's ferry. Lt. Col. Simcoe 
marched, on the 3d of June, to Croton bridge, where 
the enemy had been collecting the cattle of the coun- 
try, which he seized upon ; at the same time, he cov- 
ered the retreat of Lt. Col. Tarleton, who had passed 
that bridge and beat up the quarters of a party, four 
miles farther : he took some prisoners, and returned 
to Dobb's ferry: On the 6th, Sir William Erskine fell 
back towards Valentine's hill ; the Queen's Rangers en- 
camping at Odle's hill : soon after they formed part 
of the escort which accompanied the Commander in 
Chief to the White-plains. On the 24th of June, the 
Queen's Rangers, and Legion, marched by different 
routes to Croton bridge ; the Queen's Rangers arriv- 
ing first, and being discovered, the Huzzars attacked 
8 



102 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

and routed a small patrole of the enemy, taking a few 
prisoners : Lieutenant Whitlock, who was on a piquet 
while the troops halted to refresh themselves, ambus- 
caded a patrole, and took a Captain, and some pri- 
vates. The Queen's Rangers, and Legion, marched 
to North-castle, and lay there that night: the enemy 
having several parties in the neighbourhood, before 
day, Captain Moncrief, of the Rangers, was detached 
to take post, without discovering himself, in a wood, 
which commanded a dangerous pass through which 
the troops were to march ; they fell back, without 
molestation, on Colonel Wurmb, who had advanced 
to the White-plains to support them, and returned, 
the next day, with him to the army. 

The army marched, on the 8 th of July, in two co- 
lumns, to Marmaroneck ; the Queen's Rangers were, 
in front of that, on the right. On the 9th, the Com- 
mander in Chief marched with the army to Byram's 
bridge : on leaving this camp, to return to Marmaro- 
neck, the next day, the Queen's Rangers formed the 
rear guard. Upon this march, three soldiers, strag- 
gling at a small distance from their huts, were taken 
by some militia ; Lt. Col. Simcoe expressed, in or- 
ders, " that he is most sensibly affected at the loss of 
" the three men, who straggled from their post during 
" the last march. He feels himself but ill repaid for 
" the confidence he has placed in the regiment, and 
" his inclination to ease their duty, by never posting 
" an unnecessary sentinel ; at the same time, he 
" trusts, that, as this has been the first instance of the 
" kind during the time he has had the honor of com- 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 103 

" manding the Queen's Rangers, it will be the last ; 
" and that the soldiers will reflect what they must suf- 
"fer by a long imprisonment, from a mean and 
" despicable enemy, who never has, or can gain any 
" advantage over them, but what arises from their own 
" disobedience of orders." 

Captain Saunders, patroling towards Byram bridge, 
pursued a party of rebels. Their leader, Colonel 
Thomas, escaped, by quitting his horse and running 
into a swamp : he had his parole when made prisoner, 
the year before ; but he was guilty of some mat-prac- 
tices on Long island, and made his escape, pretending 
to justify his breaking of his parole by saying, that 
he understood it was meant to imprison him. 

An ambuscade, for a party of the enemy's militia, 
and dragoons, was projected, with every appearance 
of success ; and General Vaughan, having approved 
of it, had directed Lt. Col. Simcoe, and Major Delan- 
cey, to put it into execution, the next morning ; but, 
at night, the firing at Verplank's-point was heard, and 
the news of the capture of Stony-point was brought 
to the camp. The Commander in Chief embarking 
for Verplank's-point, on the 19th of July, Colonel 
Birch was detached from General Vaughan's army, 
with the 17th dragoons, Queen's Rangers, and Le- 
gion, to make a display of force, and to occupy the 
heights on Croton river, above Pine's bridge. The 
troops made great fires, and every demonstration of 
their being in force ; the heights they occupied were 
visible from Verplank's and Stony-point. Two of the 
Rangers, who knew the country, passed the Croton 



104 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

river, and, returning, brought information that a 
brigade of the enemy's militia were to encamp, in the 
evening, on a particular spot, within three or four 
miles ; that provisions were prepared for them, and 
that there was not the smallest suspicion of the 
King's troops being in the neighbourhood ; it appear- 
ed evident that it would be easy to surprise and de- 
stroy this corps, but Colonel Birch's orders, to his 
great regret, were positive not to pass the Croton. 
On the 20th, the troops marched back to Dobb's fer- 
ry, where the army had arrived, with whom they re- 
turned, on the 23d, to the old camp, in front of Val- 
entine's hill : the Queen's Rangers closing the rear of 
the left column. Major-General Matthews command- 
ed the troops in the new camp ; and on the 30th, he 
directed his light troops to make, respectively, strong 
patroles, and at a given time, and to a prescribed 
point. Lt. Col. Tarleton on the right ; Emmerick, 
and Simcoe, in the centre ; and the Yagers on the 
left. Lt. Col. Emmerick fell in with a strong party 
of the enemy's cavalry, who charged his dragoons, 
which retreated, and drew them into an ambuscade 
of the infantry, upon whose firing, the enemy fled. 
Colonel Wurmb, and Lt. Col. Simcoe heard the firing, 
and pushed to cut off the retreat of the enemy, which 
was so very precipitate, that, after a long pursuit, only 
two or three of their rear fell into the hands of the 
Yagers. 

The troops fell back to Kingsbridge : the Queen's 
Rangers, Emmerick's, and the Legion, occupying the 
same position they had done the year before. On 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 105 

the 5th of August, Lt. Col. Simcoe, returning, at mid- 
night, from New-York, had not alighted from his 
horse, when a Refugee came in, from Westchester, 
and informed him, that a rebel party of dragoons had 
surprised several of their quarters, had taken many- 
prisoners, and that he had escaped in the confusion. 
Lieut. Col. Simcoe called " to arms," and sent to the 
Legion, and Lt. Col. Emmerick, to join him ; he 
marched immediately, with the cavalry of the three 
corps : Major Cochrane commanded that of the Le- 
gion, Lt. Col. Tarleton being in New-York. The 
infantry was directed to follow, with all expedition ; 
and information was sent to Colonel Wurmb. The 
enemy were pursued so expeditiously, that most of 
the loyalists, whom they had taken, escaped ; and, at 
New Rochelle, Lt. Col. Simcoe, with the advanced 
guard, overtook Colonel White, who commanded the 
enemy, with his rear guard ; they fired their pistols 
at the Huzzars, who did not return a shot. The 
cavalry being arrived, Colonel White was so pressed, 
that he left his infantry, and passed a bridge : the 
enemy's infantry, unable to attain it, threw them- 
selves over a stone wall, close to the left of the road. 
This bridge was a mile from Marmaroneck ; where, 
it was understood, the enemy were in force. It was 
obvious, that there would be little probability of cut- 
ting off White's fatigued cavalry, unless the fire of 
the infantry could be passed ; Lt. Col. Simcoe at- 
tempted to rush past it, hoping that the enemy's con- 
fusion, and their position close to the road, would, as 
the event justified, hurry them to give their fire 06- 
8* 



106 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

liquely ; unluckily, it was fatal on the most essential 
point ; four Huzzars, and five horses, being either 
killed or disabled in the front, which was checked ; 
and, at the same time, from some unknown cause, the 
rear moved about, and the confusion reached to the 
centre. Lieut. Col. Simcoe, in this disorder, ordered 
Captain Diemar, who commanded an independent 
troop of Huzzars, which followed the Queen's Rang- 
ers, to pass the wall in pursuit of the enemy's infantry, 
who had fled from it ; he did so ; and Captain James, 
with his troop, and others of the Legion followed him, 
two or three of whom without orders, and, unsup- 
ported, passed the bridge, and were killed there. Lt. 
Col. Simcoe tried to get information of any collateral 
road, by which, without passing the bridge, he could 
pursue the enemy, who naturally supposing that the 
check might have stopped his party, would be induc- 
ed to retreat at a slower rate than if they were direct- 
ly pursued ; but he could procure no guide, and, in 
the mean time, a Refugee, who had escaped, brought 
certain intelligence that the enemy were unsupported 
by any infantry but those with whom the skirmish 
had happened. One of the enemy was killed by their 
own fire, close to the fence ; two, or three, by Cap- 
tain Diemar, in the pursuit, others were drowned in 
passing the creek; and, by the enemy's gazette it ap- 
peared, " that driven into a bad position, they were 
u compelled to fight at disadvantage, and lost twelve 
" men." The cavalry, on Captain Diemar's return, 
immediately continued the pursuit to Byram bridge, 
beyond which it was not prudent or useful to follow : 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 107 

some more of the loyalists were rescued, but none of 
the enemy overtaken. On the return, the cavalry 
were divided, by troops, and scoured the woods back 
to Marmaroneck, but without effect ; there they met 
with the British and Hessian light troops, with whom 
they returned to camp. 

On the 8th of August, the light troops fell back to 
the redoubts : A grand guard being in advance, which 
reported to Lt. Col. Simcoe, as senior officer of the 
Provincials, the Queen's Rangers were, for the first 
time since they left winter quarters, permitted to take 
off their coats, at night, until further orders : in case 
of sudden alarm, they were ordered to form on their 
company's parade, undressed, with silence and regu- 
larity ; the bayonets were never to be unfixed. The 
Commander in Chief was pleased to place Captain 
Sandford's troop of Buck's county dragoons under 
the command of Lieut. Col. Simcoe, till further or- 
ders ; Captain Diemar's Huzzars were also added to 
his command ; and this whole corps marched for Oys- 
ter Bay on the 13th of August : the cavalry, and 
cannon, by the route of Hell-gates, and the infantry 
by Frog's neck, where they embarked, passed over on 
the 15th, and joining the cavalry, arrived at Oyster 
Bay on the 17th. 

In this interval, the officers, commanding grand 
divisions, were ordered to make their men perfect in 
the whole of the manual exercise. Serjeant M'Pher- 
son, a corporal, and twelve men, were selected, and 
placed under the command of Lieutenant Shaw : they 
were armed with swords and rifles ; and, being daily 



108 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

exercised in firing at objects, soon became most ad- 
mirable and useful marksmen. 

There was every reason to believe that the enemy 
meant to attack some of the posts on Long Island ; 
that at Lloyd's neck had been the object of frequent 
expeditions ; and Lt. Col. Simcoe's orders were to 
assist it, in case of necessity. On some musketry 
being fired in that quarter, at midnight, he gallopped 
there with the cavalry, and cannon ; the infantry fol- 
lowed. The alarm proved to be a false one ; but 
Colonel Ludlow, who commanded that post, was of 
opinion, that this appearance of attention might pre- 
vent the attack on it, which he had certain informa- 
tion, was seriously intended against Long Island, a 
part only of the general operations meditated against 
New-York on the expected arrival of D'Estaing, with 
his fleet, from the West Indies. 

On the 9th of October, it was hinted to Lieut. Col. 
Simcoe, to hold his corps in readiness for embarka- 
tion. On the 19th, it marched for that purpose ; the 
cavalry to Jericho, where they were to remain under 
the command of Lieut. Col. Tarleton, and the infant- 
ry to Jamaica, which proceeded to Yellow-hook, and 
embarked on the 24th. Earl Cornwallis commanded 
this expedition, consisting of the 7th, 23d, 22d, 33d, 
57th regiments, Rangers, and Volunteers of Ireland 
commanded by Lord Rawdon ; it was supposed to be 
intended for Jamaica, at that time presumed to be 
threatened with an invasion from M. D'Estaing. On 
intelligence being received, that his designs were 
pointed elsewhere, the troops were re-landed -, and 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 109 

were ordered to continue in readiness to embark at 
the shortest notice. The Queen's Rangers marched 
to Richmond, on Staten Island : they relieved a regi- 
ment which had been very sickly while there. Lieut. 
Col. Simcoe immediately ordered their huts to be de- 
stroyed, and encamped his corps ; Signals, in case of 
alarm, were established on the island by General Pat- 
terson, who commanded there. 

There was a general rumour of an intended attack 
on New- York. Lt. Col. Simcoe had information that 
fifty flat-boats, upon carriages, capable of holding 
seventy men each, were on the road from the Dela- 
ware to Washington's army, and that they had been 
assembled to Van Vacter's bridge, upon the Rariton. 
He proposed to the Commander in Chief to burn 
them. Sir Henry Clinton approved of his plan, as 
did Earl Cornwallis, and directed it to be put into 
execution. Colonel Lee, with his cavalry, had been 
at Monmouth : Sir Henry Clinton, upon Lieut. Col. 
Simcoe's application to him for intelligence of this 
corps, told him, that by the best information he had, 
Lee was gone from that part of the country. There 
were no other troops in the vicinity : the Jersey mili- 
tia only, and those, tumultuously assembled at the 
moment of the execution of the enterprise, could, pos- 
sibly, impede it. The coasts of Jersey had been the 
common receptacle of the disaffected from Staten, 
Long, and York island, on the British troops taking 
possession of them ; of course, they were most viru- 
lent in their principles, and, by the custom they had 
of attacking, from their coverts, the British foraging 



110 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

parties, in 1776, and insulting their very out-posts, 
they had acquired a great degree of self-confidence, 
and activity. Lieut. Col. Simcoe's plan was, to burn 
the boats with as much expedition as possible ; to re- 
turn, with silence, to the heights beyond the town of 
Brunswick, before day ; there to show himself, to en- 
tice all who might follow him into an ambuscade ; and 
if he found that his remaining in the Jersies could 
effect any valuable purpose, the Commander in Chief 
proposed to reinforce him. To execute this purpose, 
he was to draw his cavalry from Jericho in Long 
Island, by easy marches, to Staten Island ; Stuart, an 
active and gallant man, a native of New-Jersey, com- 
manded some cavalry on that island : these were to 
be added to him ; and he requested ten guides : three 
hundred infantry of the Queen's Rangers, with their 
artillery, were also to accompany him. Two days 
were lost by a misunderstanding of the General's or- 
der : the Huzzars, of the Queen's Rangers only, being 
sent from Jericho, without Captain Sandford's troop, 
which was not merely necessary in regard to numbers, 
but particularly wished for, as it was known that Cap- 
tain Sandford, when quarter-master of the guards, 
had frequently been on foraging parties in the coun- 
try he was to pass through. On the 25th of Octo- 
ber, by eight o'clock at night, the detachment, which 
has been detailed, marched to Billop's-point, where 
they were to embark. That the enterprise might be 
effectually concealed, Lt. Col. Simcoe described a man, 
as a rebel spy, to be on the island, and endeavouring 
to escape to New-Jersey ; a great reward was offer« 



OF THE QUEERS HANGERS. Ill 

ed for taking him, and the militia of the island were 
watching all the places where it was possible for any 
man to go from, in order to apprehend him. The 
batteaux, and boats, which were appointed to be at 
Billop's-point, so as to pass the whole over by twelve 
o'clock at night, did not arrive till three 6 ^ clock in the 
morning. No time was lost ; the infantry of the 
Queen's Rangers were landed: they ambuscaded 
every avenue to the town ; the cavalry followed 
as fast as possible. As soon as it was formed, Lt. 
Colonel Simcoe called together the officers ; he told 
them of his plan, " that he meant to burn the boats at 
" Van Vacter's bridge, and crossing the Rariton, at 
" Hillsborough, to return by the road to Brunswick, 
" and, making a circuit to avoid that place as soon 
" as he came near it, to discover himself when beyond 
"it, on the heights where the Grenadier Redoubt 
" stood while the British troops were cantoned there, 
"and where the Queen's Rangers afterwards had 
" been encamped ; and to entice the militia, if possi- 
" ble, to follow him into an ambuscade which the 
" infantry would lay for them at South-river bridge." 
Major Armstrong was instructed to re-embark, as 
soon as the cavalry marched, and to land on the 
opposite side of the Rariton, at South-Amboy : he 
was then, with the utmost despatch and silence, to 
proceed to South-river bridge, six miles from South- 
Amboy, where he was to ambuscade himself, without 
passing the bridge or taking it up. A smaller creek 
falls into this river on the South- Amboy side : into 
the peninsula formed by these streams, Lieut. CoL 



112 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

Simcoe hoped to allure the Jersey militia. In case of 
accident, Major Armstrong was desired to give credit 
to any messenger who should give him the parole, of 
" Clinton and Montrose." It was day-break before 
the cavalry left Amboy. The procuring of guides 
had been by Sir Henry Clinton entrusted to Brigadier 
Skinner : he either did not or could not obtain them, 
for but one was found who knew perfectly the cross- 
road he meant to take, to avoid the main road from 
Somerset-court house, or Hillsborough, to Brunswick. 
Captain Sandford formed the advance guard, the Huz- 
zars followed, and Stuart's men were in the rear ; 
making in the whole about eighty. A Justice Crow 
was soon overtaken ; Lt. Col. Simcoe accosted him 
roughly, called him " Tory," nor seemed to believe 
his excuses, when in the American idiom for courtship, 
he said " he had only been sparking," but sent him 
to the rear guard, who, being Americans, easily com- 
prehended their instructions, and kept up the justice's 
belief that the party was a detachment from Wash- 
ington's army. Many plantations were now passed 
by, the inhabitants of which were up, and whom the 
party accosted with friendly salutations. At Quible- 
town, Lt. Col. Simcoe had just quitted the advance 
guard to speak to Lieut. Stuart, when, from a public 
house on the turn of the road, some people came out 
with knapsacks on their shoulders, bearing the ap- 
pearance of a rebel guard : Captain Sandford did not 
see them till he had passed by, when, checking his 
horse to give notice, the Huzzars were reduced to a 
momentary halt opposite the house ; perceiving the 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 113 

supposed guard, they threw themselves off their 
horses, sword in hand, and entered the house. Lt. 
Col. Simcoe instantly made them remount : but they 
were afraid to discover some thousand pounds of 
paper-money which had been taken from a passenger, 
the master of a privateer, nor could he stay to search 
for it. He told the man, "that he would be answer- 
" able to give him his money that night at Brunswick, 
" where he should quarter ;" exclaimed aloud to his 
party, " that these were not the Tories they were in 
" search of, although theyliad knapsacks," and told the 
country people who were assembling around, " that 
" a party of Tories had made their escape from Sul- 
" livan's army, and were trying to get into Staten 
" Island, as IlifF (who had been defeated, near this 
" very spot, taken, and executed) had formerly done, 
" and that he was sent to intercept them :" the sight 
of Justice Crow would, probably, have aided in de- 
ceiving the inhabitants, but, unfortunately, a man 
personally knew Lt. Col. Simcoe, and an express was 
sent to Governor Levingstone, then at Brunswick, as 
soon as the party marched. It was now conducted 
by a country lad whom they fell in with, and to whom 
Captain Sandford, being dressed in red, and without 
his cloak, had been introduced as a French officer : 
he gave information, that the greater part of the 
boats had been sent on to Washington's camp, but 
that eighteen were at Van Vacter's bridge, and that 
their horses were at a farm about a mile from it : he 
led the party to an old camp of Washington's above 
Bound brook. Lt. Col. Simcoe's instructions were to 
9 



114 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

burn these huts, if possible, in order to give as wide 
an alarm to the Jersies as he could. He found it im- 
practicable to do so, they not being joined in ranges, 
nor built of very combustible materials. He pro- 
ceeded without delay to Bound brook, from whence 
he intended to carry off Col. Moyland, but he was 
not at Mr. Vanhorn's : two officers who had been ill 
were there ; their paroles were taken ; and they 
were ordered to mark " sick quarters" over the room 
door they inhabited, which was done ; and Mr. Van- 
horn was informed, that the party was the advanced 
guard of the left column of the army, which was 
commanded by General Birch, who meant to quarter 
that night at his house ; and that Sir H. Clinton was 
in full march for Morris-town, with the army. The 
party proceeded to Van Vacter's bridge : Lieut. Col. 
Simcoe found eighteen new flat-boats, upon carriages ; 
they were full of water. He was determined effect- 
ually to destroy them. Combustibles had been appli- 
ed for, and he received, in consequence, a few port- 
fires ; every Huzzar had a hand-grenade, and several 
hatchets were brought with the party. The timbers 
of the boats were cut through ; they were filled with 
straw and railing, and some grenades being fastened 
in them, they were set on fire : forty minutes were 
employed in this business. The country began to 
assemble in their rear ; and as Lt. Col. Simcoe went 
to the Dutch-meeting, where the harness, and some 
stores, were reported to be, a rifle-shot was fired at 
him from the opposite bank of the river : this house, 
with a magazine of forage, was now consumed, the 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 115 

commissary, and his people, being made prisoners. 
The party proceeded to Somerset court-house, or 
Hillsborough. Lt. Col. Simcoe told the prisoners not 
to be alarmed, that he would give them their paroles 
before he left the Jersies ; but he could not help 
heavily lamenting to the officers with him, the sinister 
events which prevented him from being at Van 
Vacter's bridge some hours sooner, as it would have 
been very feasible to have drawn off the flat-boats to 
the South river, instead of destroying them. He 
proceeded to Somerset court-house ; three Loyalists, 
who were prisoners there, were liberated ; one of 
them was a dreadful spectacle, he appeared to have 
been almost starved, and was chained to the floor ; 
the soldiers wished, and it was permitted to burn the 
court-house: it was unconnected with any other 
building, and, by its flames, showed on which side of 
the Rariton he was, and would, most probably, oper- 
ate to assemble the neighborhood of Brunswick at its 
bridge, to prevent him from returning by that road : 
the party proceeded towards Brunswick. Alarm 
guns were now heard, and some shots were fired at 
the rear, particularly by one person, who, as it after- 
wards appeared, being out a shooting, and hearing of 
the incursion, had sent word to Governor Levingstone, 
who was at Brunswick, that he would follow the party 
at a distance, and every now and then give a shot, 
that he might know which way they directed their 
march. Passing by some houses, Lt. Col. Simcoe 
told the women to inform four or five people who 
were pursuing the rear " that if they fired another 



116 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

" shot, he would burn every house which he passed.' 9 
A man or two were now slightly wounded. As the 
party approached Brunswick, Lieut. Col. Simcoe 
began to be anxious for the cross road, diverging 
from it into the Prince-town road, which he meant to 
pursue, and which having once arrived at, he himself 
knew the bye ways to the heights he wished to attain, 
where having frequently done duty, he was minutely 
acquainted with every advantage and circumstance of 
the ground : his guide was perfectly confident that he 
was not yet arrived at it ; and Lt. Col. Simcoe was 
in earnest conversation with him, and making the 
necessary enquiries, when a shot, at some little dis- 
tance, discovered there was a party in the front. 
He immediately galloped thither; and he sent back 
Wright, his orderly serjeant, to acquaint Captain 
Sandford " that the shot had not been fired at the 
" party," when, on the right at some distance, he 
saw the rail fence (which was very high on both sides 
of the narrow road between two woods) somewhat 
broken down, and a man or two near it, when putting 
his horse on the canter, he joined the advance men 
of the Huzzars, determining to pass through this 
opening, so as to avoid every ambuscade that might 
be laid for him, or attack, upon more equal terms, 
Colonel Lee, (whom he understood to be in the 
neighborhood, and apprehended might be opposed to 
him,) or any other party ; when he saw some men 
concealed behind logs and bushes, between him and 
the opening he meant to pass through, and he heard 
the words, H now, now," and found himself, when he 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 117 

recovered his senses, prisoner with the enemy, his 
horse being killed with five bullets, and himself stun- 
ned by the violence of his fall. His imprisonment, 
the circumstances which attended it, and the indeli- 
ble impressions which it has made on his memory, 
cannot, even at this distance, be repeated without the 
strongest emotions : as they merely relate to personal 
history, they, with his correspondence with Sir H. 
Clinton, Governor Levingstone, Col. Lee, Gen. Wash- 
ington, &c. &c. are referred to the appendix. 

Lt. Col. Simcoe had no opportunity of communi- 
cating his determination to any of his officers, they 
being all with their respective divisions ready for 
what might follow upon the signal shot of the enemy, 
and his resolution being one of those where thought 
must go hand in hand with execution, it is no wonder, 
therefore, that the party, who did not perceive the 
opening he was aiming at, followed with the accelera- 
ted pace which the front, being upon the canter, too 
generally brings upon the rear ; they passed the am- 
buscade in great confusion : three horses were wound- 
ed, and the men made prisoners, two of them being 
also wounded. The enemy who fired were not five 
yards off: they consisted of thirty men, commanded 
by Mariner, a refugee from New York, and well known 
for his enterprises with whale-boats. They were 
posted on the very spot which Lt. Col. Simcoe had 
always aimed at avoiding. His guide misled him: 
nor was the reason of his error the least uncommon 
of the sinister events which attended this incursion. 
When the British troops quitted the camp at Hills- 
9* 



118 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

borough, and marched to Brunswick, among other 
houses which were unwarrantably burnt was the one 
which the guard relied upon, as marking out the pri- 
vate road the party was to take : he knew not of its 
being burnt, and that every vestige had been destroy- 
ed, so that he led them unintentionally into the am- 
buscade ; which when the party had passed by on the 
full gallop, they found themselves on the high grounds 
beyond the barracks at Brunswick. Here they ral- 
lied ; there was little doubt but Lt. Col. Simcoe was 
killed : the surgeon, (Mr. Kellock,) with a white hand- 
kerchief, held out as a flag of truce, at the manifest 
risk of his life, returned to enquire for him. The 
militia assembling, Captain Sandford drew up, and 
charged them, of course, they fled : a Captain Vor- 
hees, of the Jersey Continental troops, was overtaken, 
and the Huzzar, at whom he had fired, killed him. 
A few prisoners were taken. Captain Sandford pro- 
ceeded to the South river, the guides having recover- 
ed from the consternation. Two militia-men only 
were met with upon the road thither : they fired, and 
killed Molloy, a brave Huzzar, the advance man of 
the party, and were themselves instantly put to death. 
At South river the cavalry joined Major Armstrong ; 
he had perfectly succeeded in arriving at his post un- 
discovered, and, ambuscading himself, had taken sev- 
eral prisoners. He marched back to South- Amboy, 
and re-embarked without opposition, exchanging some 
of the bad horses of the corps for better ones which 
he had taken with the prisoners. The alarm through 
the country was general ; Wayne was detached from 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 119 

Washington's camp in the highlands, with the light 
troops, and marched fourteen miles that night, and 
thirty the next day ; Colonel Lee, who was in Mon- 
mouth county, as it was said, fell back towards the 
Delaware. The Queen's Rangers returned to Rich- 
mond that evening : the cavalry had marched upwards 
of eighty miles, without halting or refreshment, and 
the infantry thirty. 

In the distribution of quarters for the remaining 
winter, Richmond was allotted to the Queen's Ran- 
gers. This post was in the centre of Staten island, 
and consisted of three bad redoubts, so constructed, 
at various times and in such a manner, as to be of 
little mutual assistance : the spaces between these re- 
doubts had been occupied by the huts of the troops, 
wretchedly made of mud ; these Lieut. Col. Simcoe 
had thrown down, and his purpose was to build ran- 
ges of log houses, which might join the redoubts, and 
being loop-holed, might become a very defensible cur- 
tain. Major Armstrong followed the plan, and set the 
regiment about its execution, in parties adapted to the 
different purposes of felling the timber, sawing it, and 
making shingles for the roofings. In the beginning of 
December, the regiment was ordered to embark ; 
which order was, soon after, countermanded. 

On the last day of December, Lt. Col. Simcoe re- 
turned to Staten island, from his imprisonment. He 
was mortified to find the expedition, under the Com- 
mander in Chief, had failed ; especially as, upon his 
landing at Staten island, he received a letter from Ma- 
jor Andre, adjutant-general, saying; "If this meets 



120 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

"you a free man, prepare your regiment for em- 
barkation, and hasten to New York yourself." 
He joined his corps at Richmond ; Major Armstrong 
had been indefatigable in getting the regiment hutted 
in a manner which rendered their post both comfort- 
able and defensible : and they soon found the advan- 
tages of their very extraordinary labours. The day 
which Lt. Col. Simcoe passed the sound was the last 
on which it became navigable for a considerable time, 
the frost setting in with most unusual inclemency, and, 
by the 10th of January, the communication with New 
York was totally shut up by floating ice ; and General 
Stirling was reduced to the necessity of restraining 
the troops to half allowance of provisions, but with 
every precaution to impress the inhabitants, and sol- 
diers, with the belief that this restriction was precau- 
tionary against the possibility of the communication 
being closed for several weeks ; and care was taken 
to investigate what resources of fresh provisions 
might be obtained from the island. The sound, which 
divides Staten island from the Jersies, being totally 
frozen over and capable of bearing cannon, informa- 
tion was received that several of the rebel Generals 
had been openly measuring the thickness of the ice, 
and it was universally rumored that an attack was 
soon to take place upon Staten island : General Stirling 
commanded there, and he was with the main body at 
the watering place, the heights of which were occu- 
pied with several redoubts ; Colonel Lord Rawdon, 
with the volunteers of Ireland, was quartered near a 
redoubt at the point of the narrows ; and Lt. Col. 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 121 

Simcoe with the Queen's Rangers, at Richmond : the 
whole force on the island being under one thousand 
eight hundred effective men. 

On the 15th of January, early in the morning, the 
rebel detachment of near three thousand men, under 
the command of the person styled Lord Stirling, 
crossed the ice and entered Staten Island ; Lord Stir- 
ling marched immediately towards the landing place, 
and by his position cut off General Stirling's commu- 
nication with the Volunteers of Ireland and the 
Queen's Rangers. Lt. Col. Simcoe occupied the high 
grounds near Richmond with small parties of caval- 
ry, and the infantry were sedulously employed in 
what might strengthen that post ; there were three 
pieces of cannon (a nine and two six-pounders) 
mounted on platforms, without embrasures, in the 
redoubts : these were pointed at the eminences, 
where it was expected the enemy would first appear, 
and where the stones were collected in heaps, so that 
a round shot, if it struck among them, might have the 
effect of grape. If batteries, or any cannon, should 
be opened against Richmond, it was obvious these 
guns must be dismounted : they were, therefore, not 
intended to be exposed to such accidents, but the 
redoubt on the right was meant, on the first appear- 
ance of assault, to be abandoned, and its area filled 
with abatis which were provided, and its gate left 
open and exposed to the fire of the cannon of the 
other redoubts placed at their respective gates, of. the 
two regimental field pieces, and of the musketry 
from the doors, windows, and loop-holes of the bar- 



122 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

racks. The officers' barracks, which were within the 
triangular area formed by those of the soldiers and 
the redoubts, were intended to be taken down, and 
the logs of which they were composed were to be 
heaped within a hut, and to form a traverse on a part 
exposed to the enemy. The rear of the works were 
secured by their position on the edge of the hill from 
any possibility of attack, and some of the huts, which 
ran below the surface of it, were in perfect safety from 
any shot whatsoever, and nearly so from shells, 
against the splinters of which their logs were very 
respectable traverses. There was a gun-boat, which 
was frozen up in the creek, at the foot of Richmond 
Hill : this gun was elevated so as to fire a single 
round of grape shot ; some swivels also were brought 
into the redoubts. Spike nails, which there were a 
quantity for the barrack purposes, were driven through 
boards, ready to be concealed under the snow in places 
which were most accessible ; all the cattle in the 
neighbourhood were brought into the precincts of the 
garrison, as were the sledges, harness and horses, and 
the most cheerful and determined appearance of re- 
solution ran through the whole corps. About mid- 
day, many deserters came in from the rebel army ; by 
them a perfect knowledge of the enemy's force was 
gained : and one of them affirmed that he overheard 
some of their principal officers say, " That it was not 
" worth while to attack Richmond where they were 
" sure of obstinate resistance, and which must fall of 
" itself whenever the main body was taken." 

Lt. Col. Simcoewas anxious to communicate with 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 123 

Lord Rawdon, and to obtain any intelligence, or or- 
ders, his lordship might have for him: he sent his 
adjutant, Lt. Ormond, with directions to get some of 
the militia, to convey a letter for that purpose, by the 
sea shore. Some scattering parties of the enemy 
had been that way, on which account Lieut. Ormond 
could get no one to venture, he therefore went him- 
self, and putting on coloured clothes that he might not 
be distinguished, in case of any small parties lying 
in ambuscade, he got safely to the flag-staff, and re- 
turned without discovery. The rebels making no 
attempt in the day time upon the redoubts, where 
General Stirling was, led Lt. Col. Simcoe to conclude 
that they waited for cannon or more forces, and meant 
to storm them at night or the next morning; for, 
though no person could hold more cheaply than he 
thought himself authorised to do, those men on whom 
the enemy had conferred the office and title of Gen- 
erals, it appeared totally unreasonable that having so 
well chosen the moment of invading the island, they 
had no determined point to carry, or had neglected 
the proper means to ensure its success. On these 
ideas, he desired Col. Billop, (who commanded the 
militia of Staten Island,) to get them to assemble to 
garrison Richmond ; but neither entreaties, the full 
explanation of the advantage such a conduct would 
be of, nor the personal example of Col. Billop, had 
any effect : not a man could be prevailed upon to 
enter the garrison. They assembled to drink at 
various public houses, and to hear the news, or were 
busy in providing for the temporary security of their 



124 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

cattle and effects ; and these were not disaffected per- 
sons, but men who were obnoxious to the rebel 
governors, many of them refugees from the Jersies, 
some who had every reason to expect death, if the 
enemy succeeded, and all the total destruction of 
their property. Lieut. Col. Simcoe was therefore 
obliged to lay aside his intentions, which were to 
march with his cavalry, carrying muskets, with as 
many infantry as he could justify the taking from 
Richmond, with his field pieces in sledges, together 
with the swivels fixed upon blocks, and to get near 
the enemy undiscovered, and to make as great an 
alarm and as much impression as possible upon their 
rear, whensoever they attempted to storm the British 
redoubts. All the roads between Richmond and the 
head quarters, led through narrow passes, and below 
the chain of hills : these, where they had been beaten 
only, were passable, the ground being covered with 
several feet of snow, so that no patroles were made 
during the night, which would have been useless and 
dangerous ; and the cavalry were assembled within 
the redoubts : the night was remarkably cold. A 
person from the Jersies brought the report of the 
country, that Washington was expected the next day, 
at Elizabethtown, and that straw, &c. was sent to 
Staten Island. He went back again, commissioned 
by Lt. Col. Simcoe, to observe what stores were in 
Elizabethtown, and particularly to remark what air- 
holes were in the ice on the sound between the mouth 
of Richmond Creek and Elizabethtown, as it was in- 
tended, if nothing material intervened before the next 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 125 

night, to send Capt. Stephenson with a detachment 
to burn Elizabethtown, and to give an alarm in the 
Jersies. 

The intelligence which this zealous and trust- 
worthy loyalist brought was very probable : the mak- 
ing a winter campaign in America had always appear- 
ed to Lt. Col. Simcoe a matter of great facility, and 
by frequently ruminating upon it, he was alive to the 
advantages which would attend Mr. Washington in its 
prosecution. He would without hesitation have aban- 
doned the post of Richmond, and joined Lord Raw- 
don, or Gen. Stirling, taking on himself all conse- 
quences, had it not appeared to him that the possession 
of Richmond would insure to Mr. Washington a safe 
retreat, even should the ice become impassable, and 
would probably inculcate on him the propriety of his 
seriously attempting to keep Staten Island at this very 
critical period, when the Commander in Chief was 
absent with the greatest part of the army, and the 
troops in New- York, under Gen. Kniphausen, were 
probably not in a capacity to quit it and take the 
field : particularly as in that case, the nominal militia 
whose numbers were so well displayed, as sufficient 
to garrison it, must for the greater part have melted 
away in their attendance on the army, to whose vari- 
ous departments they in general belonged. 

Mr. Washington might without difficulty have as- 
sembled from the smaller creeks, and even from the 
Delaware, and Hudson's river, a multitude of boats, 
which, while the snow was upon the ground, might be 
conveyed over-land to the Staten Island Sound ; and 
10 



126 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

with these, added to those which attended his army, 
he might transport his troops or form bridges, secur- 
ing all approaches to them from the water, by batter- 
ies constructed on the Jersey shore, while by other 
attacks and preparations, he certainly could have 
thrown great difficulties in the way of Gen. Kniphau- 
sen, and the British army in the three islands. Lt. 
Col. Simcoe, reasoning on the possibility of these 
events, waited to be guided by circumstances. If Gen. 
Stirling could hold out, and was neither overwhelmed 
by numbers, or reduced by famine, which was most 
to be dreaded, it was obvious Richmond would be 
safe : if matters happened otherwise, he was perfect- 
ly certain, from Lord Rawdon's character, that he 
should receive some directions from him, who would 
never remain in an untenable post, with the certainty 
of being made prisoner ; and at all events Lieut. Col. 
Simcoe determined, in case Gen. Stirling should be 
defeated, and that he should receive no orders, he 
would attempt to escape ; for since the rebels had 
shown a total defect in every private and public prin- 
ciple of honour, when they violated the convention 
with Gen. Burgoyne's army, he and the officers of 
the Queen's Rangers had determined in no situation 
to surrender, where by escaping, if it should be but a 
mile into the country, the corps could disband itself 
individually, and separately attempt to rejoin the 
British armies ; proper inducements being held out 
to the soldiers, and great aid being reasonably to be 
expected from the loyal inhabitants, scattered through- 
out every colony, and in very great numbers. This, 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 127 

which had been his common conversation and steady 
resolution, in case of any unfortunate events, was 
now determined on by Lieut. Col. Simcoe : his ideas 
were to forerun all intelligence, and to attempt to 
surprise Col. Lee, at Burlington, and then to escape 
to the back countries. For this purpose, he had 
sledges which could carry a hundred men, and he had 
no doubt of soon increasing them in the Jersies, to a 
number sufficient to convey the whole corps ; the 
attempt was less dangerous in itself, and less injuri- 
ous, if it failed, to the community, than the certainty 
of being destroyed by heavy artillery, of ultimately 
surrendering, of mouldering in prison, and becoming 
lost to all future service to their king and country. 
There was no corps between General Washington's 
army, and that of Lincoln hastening into Charles- 
town, but Col. Lee's : when once in possession of his 
horses, there was little doubt in the mind of Lt. Col. 
Simcoe, and the officers to whom he communicated 
his ideas, but that he should effect his retreat into 
the back parts of Pennsylvania, join his friends there, 
probably release the Convention army, and not im- 
possibly join the commander in chief, in Carolina. 
Full of these ideas, it was with great surprise and 
pleasure, that Lt. Col. Simcoe understood the enemy 
were retreating from the island. He immediately 
pursued them with the flank companies and Huzzars ; 
tnd was overtaken by an order from General Stirling 
to effect the same purpose ; but the enemy had pass- 
ed to the Jersey shore before he could come up with 
them. While the troops in the enemy's front, on 



128 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

their arrival at the heights opposite to the British re- 
doubts, halted for the rear to close up, they were 
permitted to make fires, which increased the power 
of the frost, and rendered them totally unable to pro- 
ceed, and the severity of the night affecting the 
whole of them, many lost their limbs, and several 
their lives. There were vast mounds of snow drifted 
before the redoubts, which Lord Stirling gave as his 
reason for not attempting them ; and General Knip- 
hausen, on the first signal of Staten Island being 
attacked, embarked troops to support it. The ene- 
my in the dark of the evening saw these vessels, 
(which, whether the passage could be effected or not, 
were wisely directed to be kept plying off and on,) 
but they did not wait to see if they could reach the 
island, which in fact the drifting ice prevented, but 
immediately determining to retreat, they effected it 
the next morning, losing many men by desertion, and 
many British soldiers, who had enlisted with them to 
free themselves from imprisonment, embraced the 
opportunity of being in a country they were acquaint- 
ed with, to return to their old companions. The 
Queen's Rangers obtained a great many recruits ; and 
it is very remarkable that neither that corps, or the 
Volunteers of Ireland had a single man who deserted 
from them, while there were such opportunities and 
apparent reasons to do it. Lt. Col. Simcoe on his 
return from Elizabethtown Point, where the enemy 
passed, had information that a party of plunderers 
had crossed from the Jersies to the other end of the 
island ; he detached the Huzzars in pursuit of them,. 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 129 

but they fled, on the Staten Island militia collecting 
together. The frost still continuing, there were 
many reports and a general expectation that the ene- 
my would again adventure upon the island, with supe- 
rior force, with sufficient provision to attempt some 
greater purpose ; and patroles were constantly made 
on all the roads, by which they could possibly ap- 
proach, by order of Gen. Stirling. The Queen's 
Rangers had formerly experienced how ready Gen. 
Stirling was to represent their services ; and they, 
now in common with the other troops, had a further 
proof of his good inclinations, it being inserted in the 
general orders of the 21st of January, " Brigadier 
" Gen. Stirling is happy to inform the troops on this 
" island, of his Excellency Gen. Kniphausen's fullest 
" approbation of their behaviour, and the good coun- 
" tenance they showed when the rebels were upon this 
" island, which the brigadier had reported to the Com- 
"mander in Chief; and his Excellency desires his 
" thanks may be given to them." On the 25th Lieut. 
Col. Simcoe gave out the following order : " That he 
" expects the order relative to officers and soldiers 
" sleeping in their clothes be strictly complied with, 
" such recruits excepted, whom the officers com- 
" manding companies may judge as yet unequal to 
" the duties of the regiment ; if any half-bred soldier 
" disobeys this order, the first officer, or non-commis- 
" sioned officer, who meets with him, will deliver him 
" to the officer on guard to be put on some internal 
" duty. The Lt. Col. has particular satisfaction in 
"seeing the General's approbation of that good 
10* 



130 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

" countenance which enabled him, on the late inroad 
" of the enemy, to rest perfectly at ease, without 
"augmenting the duty of the regiment ; he knows its 
" universal spirit, and certain from the fidelity of those 
" on guard, that the garrison cannot be snatched 
"away by surprise, is confident that Richmond re- 
" doubts will be too dear for the whole rebel army to 
" purchase." 

Soon after the rebel army returned to their former 
winter quarters, a very important enterprise suggest- 
ed itself to Lt. Col. Simcoe ; he understood by de- 
serters and other intelligence, that Mr. Washington 
was quartered at a considerable distance from his 
army, or any corps of it, and nearer to New- York : 
by the maps of the country, and all the information 
he could collect, he thought that it would not be dif- 
ficult to carry him off. He communicated his ideas 
to a gentleman, who had been persecuted by the re- 
bels, and whose family had been the object of their 
cruel resentment, for his early and uniform loyalty, 
and by his assistance, a very minute and perfect map 
of the country was drawn. Some few particulars 
were necessary to be ascertained, which a trusty per- 
son was sent out to inquire into, but without any idea 
being given to him that might lead him to guess at 
the enterprise, which was only made known to Capt. 
Shaw, of the Queen's Rangers, until the 31st of Janu- 
ary, when, preparatory to the necessary application 
to Generals Tryon and Kniphausen, Lt. Col. Simcoe 
communicated his ideas to Gen. Stirling, which, as 
appears by his letter in the appendix, met with his 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 131 

full approbation. Lieut. Col. Simcoe's plan was to 
march by very secret ways, made the more so by the 
inclement season, and to arrive near Gen. Washing- 
ton's quarters by day-break, to tie up his horses in 
a swamp, and to storm the quarters, and attack his 
guard on foot: for this purpose, his party were to 
carry muskets as well as swords, and he meant it to 
consist of eighty men, indiscriminately taken from 
the cavalry or infantry, with an Officer, besides those 
of the staff, to every six men, and he was to select 
those he should command. The party were to halt 
at two cottages in a wood, if they should arrive be- 
fore the appointed time. Lt. Col. Simcoe waited for 
his conclusive information with great impatience, and 
in his conversations with Capt. Shaw always express- 
ed his sanguine hopes, almost his certainty of success ; 
his only apprehension being in case Mr. Washington 
should personally resist, by what means he could bring 
him off, and preserve his life ; when, to his great sur- 
prise, his Huzzars were ordered to march with a con- 
voy over the ice to New- York. It should seem, the 
same negligence in Gen. Washington's quartering in 
front of his army, had attracted the notice of Capt. 
Beckwith, Gen. Kniphausen's Aid-du-camp, and he 
had formed a plan to carry off that general ; for which 
purpose, cavalry were collected at New- York, and 
among others, Captain Beckwith obtained the Huz- 
zars of the Queen's Rangers, of whom he had a good 
opinion, as he often accompanied Lt. Col. Simcoe in 
the patroles he had made from Kingsbridge. Briga- 
bier Gen. Stirling communicated to Lt. Col. Simcoe 



132 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

the purpose for which his cavalry was withdrawn, as 
it was intended that a general movement from Staten 
Island should favour the enterprise. Since it did not 
take place on so large a scale as was at first designed, 
Lt. Col. Simcoe received orders " to send a party to 
" surprise the enemy's post at Woodbridge or Rah- 
" way, and to give a general alarm :" this party was 
to cross the ice at one o'clock in the morning, and not 
to return till nine or ten. Accordingly, Lt. Col. Sim- 
coe passed the ice with two hundred infantry, at one 
o'clock ; Major Armstrong with some infantry, the 
cavalry, and cannon occupying the heights, at the 
Old Blazing-star, to cover their return. The snow 
prevented all possibility of marching, but on the beat- 
en road : there were no posts in Woodbridge. But, 
as he was anxious to fulfil the spirit of his orders, and 
to give every assistance in his power to his friend, 
Capt. Beckwith's enterprise, he determined to pro- 
ceed until he beat up some of the enemy's quarters, 
or fell in with their patroles. On the arrival at the 
cross roads, from Amboy to Elizabethtown, the 
troops were challenged, the whole body halted, and 
with such profound silence, added to their being in 
the middle of the road, and at night when the beaten 
path in it appeared among the snow like a dark 
streak, that the enemy were deceived and thought 
themselves mistaken, as was learnt from their con- 
versation, which was plainly over-heard : but another 
patrole on horseback, falling in on the flank of the 
march, discovered the party ; the enemy's sentinels 
fired, and in succession the bugle-horns, drums, and 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 133 

bagpipe of the Queen's Rangers sounded ; an uni- 
versal alarm being given and propagated, the party 
returned towards Woodbridge : a soldier was unfor- 
tunate enough to be killed by the chance shot of the 
sentinels. The enemy assembled in the rear, and ap- 
peared at eight o'clock, when the party passed Wood- 
bridge creek : the snow was so deep that it was 
scarce possible to quit the road, which was of advan- 
tage to the Rangers ; for the companies, alternately 
advancing in front of the march, occupied such 
orchards or trees, as were at a small distance from 
the road, and checked the enemy who pressed upon 
the rear. Upon his approach to the Sound, Lt. Col. 
Simcoe could hear them determine to occupy the 
houses at the Ferry, and to fire on the Rangers as 
they passed back ; this they could have done with 
considerable effect, and without being exposed : Ser- 
jeant Wright was dispatched to gallop over the ice to 
Major Armstrong, and to desire him to point his can- 
non at the Ferry house ; and Capt. Shank was de- 
tached to cross it, previous to the return of the 
troops, and to conceal himself behind the ridges of 
the ice, which the tide had heaped up, and cover the 
retreat of the party, which would pass the Sound in 
security, between the angle formed by the fire of this 
detachment, directly opposite, and of Major Arm- 
strong's cannon, at a greater and more oblique dis- 
tance. These arrangements being made, and the 
enemy approaching, the Rangers suddenly turned 
about and charged them upon a steady run, the rebels 
immediately fled, and they were pursued till they 



134 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

passed over a small hill, when the Rangers were or- 
dered to go to the right about, and without altering 
their pace get upon the ice ; they were half way over 
before the rebels perceived them, which as soon as 
they did, they occupied the houses, and some of them 
followed upon the ice ; Capt Shank firing upon them 
from his ambuscade, drove them instantly back, 
while the cannon shot struck the houses at the same 
time, and, as it was reported, killed some of them : 
the party returned to Richmond without further mo- 
lestation. The Queen's Rangers lost only the man 
already mentioned ; a few were wounded, but they 
bore no proportion to the numbers whose cloths 
were struck by the enemy's bullets, fired at a distance, 
through intervening thickets, or more probably by 
those who had not recollection sufficient to ram 
down their charges. The enemy's loss was supposed 
to be more considerable, as many of them were seen 
to fall, and the whole of the affair being between single 
men, the Rangers were infinitely better marksmen 
than the Jersey militia. Capt. Beckwith had found 
it impracticable to carry his attempt into execution, 
from an uncommon fall of rain, which encrusting the 
top of the snow, cut the fetlocks of his horses, and 
rendered it absolutely impossible for him to succeed. 
The Huzzars soon after returned to Staten Island. 
The ice floating on the 22d of February, the Sound 
became impassable ; the soldiers were permitted to 
undress themselves at night, and in case of alarm 
they were directed to accoutre in their shirts, and to 
form at their posts. 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 135 

Lt. Col. Simcoe on his arrival at Staten Island from 
imprisonment, had applied to the Commander in Chief 
to request that he might join the army to the south- 
ward ; he had also written in the strongest terms to 
Earl Cornwallis, soliciting his lordship to support his 
application. In case his wishes should not take 
place, he was anxious to be of what service he 
thought the present situation of the Queen's Rangers 
would admit : for this purpose he made application 
through the proper channel to Gen Kniphausen, for 
discretionary permission to beat up the enemy's posts 
in the Jersies, and to have boats sufficient to transport 
three hundred infantry and sixty cavalry, to be man- 
ned by the Rangers, and to be left totally to his own 
disposal : he proposed by these means to countenance 
desertion, then prevalent in Washington's army, and 
to keep the whole coast in continual alarm : he had 
the most minute maps of the country and the best 
guides : and the Loyalists, without doubt, would have 
universally joined him. The first enterprise he meant 
to attempt was, to surprise Col. Lee, at Burlington : 
he intended to land at night with his cavalry in an 
unfrequented part of the coast, and march in three 
separate bodies, each of thirty rank and file, carrying 
firelocks, and in the minutest particular, each party 
to be so like to the other, that if they should be dis- 
covered by any accident, they might not be easily 
discriminated, particularly as the separate routs were 
to be nearly parallel, through bye paths, and seldom 
at more than two miles distance : before day break 
they were to meet at an appointed swamp, where they 



136 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

were to remain concealed till the next night, when 
they were to continue their march, dismount when 
they arrived close to Burlington, and with fixed bay- 
onets rush into the town, and attempt to conquer 
Lee's corps. In the mean time the infantry were to 
land on the second evening, and, with as much secrecy 
as possibly, march twenty-five miles into the country 
to secure the retreat. From time to time, during 
this enterprise, Lt. Col. Simcoe would have had the 
best intelligence, without the Loyalists who managed 
it being entrusted with the secret of his destination ; 
they would have arrived at specified spots from dif- 
ferent places, in expectation of meeting those who 
carried on a contraband traffic with Philadelphia. 
Lee's corps were excellently mounted and disciplined ; 
he himself was active and enterprising, and had that 
weight in the Jersies, which capacity and power, with 
a very free use of it, could give to the possessor ; 
the importance it would have been of to the intended 
system of operations, to have seized upon Col. Lee 
and demolished his corps, is best illustrated by re- 
marking that, although Burlington is near seventy 
miles from Staten Island, he was understood to have 
his piquets eight or ten miles in his front for his secu- 
rity. Lt. Col. Simcoe's proposals were approved of 
by Generals Kniphausen, Stirling, and Tryon : some 
of the boats were sent to him, and the remainder, 
with the preparations detailed in the appendix, were 
in forwardness, when, on the 23d of March 1780, the 
infantry of the corps received orders to embark for 
Charlestown, which it did on the 4th of April. Capt. 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 137 

Wickham was left with the Huzzars in the town of 
Richmond, and the duty of the redoubts was taken 
by a party of two subaltern officers and sixty rank 
and file, from the 82d regiment, under his directions ; 
this detachment was in a few days after relieved by 
the 22d regiment. The Hessian regiment of Ditforth, 
Queen's Rangers, Volunteers of Ireland, and Prince 
of Wales's volunteers, under the command of Col. 
Westerhagen, sailed on the 7th. The Queen's Ran- 
gers anchored in Stono inlet on the 18th, and passing 
the Ashley river, arrived at the camp before Charles 
Town on the 21st : they immediately marched to the 
quarter-house, four miles from Charles Town and cov- 
ered the troops employed on the siege, by extending be- 
tween the Ashley and Cooper rivers. The infantry 
consisted of four hundred rank and file : there was not 
a sick man among them, for great attention had been 
paid to whatever might preserve them in health ; 
and Mr. Kellock and Macauley, the surgeons, were 
very capable and attentive in their duties. The 
soldiers were new clothed and accoutred, and the 
regiment had substituted light caps, neat and com- 
modious, in the room of the miserable contract 
hats, which had been sent from England. To the 
personal congratulations of his friends, on his release 
from imprisonment. Lt. Col. Simcoe had great pleas- 
ure, as he expressed himself in orders, " in hearing 
" the uniformity and appearance of the regiment uni- 
" versally approved : he trusts that soldier will vie 
" with soldier and officer with officer in maintaining 
" in their respective stations the very favourable hu- 
ll 



138 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

" pression which their superior officers entertain of 
" them, that their discipline and appearance on the 
" parade reflects credit on their soldier-like behaviour 
" in the field." On the arrival of this reinforcement, 
Sir Henry Clinton augmented the detachments which 
he had thrown over the Cooper river, to cut off the 
intercourse between Charles Town and the country : 
and Earl Cornwallis took their command. The siege 
was pushed with vigor ; Lt. Col. Simcoe was very 
apprehensive that Gen. Lincoln, under the pretext of 
a sally, would embark in boats, and passing up the 
Ashley river land beyond his post ; when, a few hours' 
march in a country intersected by rivers and swamps, 
would enable him to baffle all pursuit : he therefore 
obtained two six pounders to be added to his field 
pieces, and placed to command the river ; and he en- 
deavored to procure a fire-raft, to be moored on the 
opposite bank, which, being set on fire, would throw 
a light across sufficient to direct the cannon on any 
boats which might attempt to pass. He had brought 
with him a Serjeant and nine huzzars, with their ac- 
coutrements, these and his riflemen he soon mounted, 
and patrolled in his front between Dorchester and 
Goose creek ; but particularly to examine the points 
which he thought most practicable for Gen. Lincoln 
to land on. He found a sloop on the shore at Goose 
creek, which on the 9th of May Lt. Murray, a gentle- 
man who had been bred in the navy, was indefatigable 
in getting off and bringing down to the post, to assist 
in blocking up the passage : however, Mr. Lincoln 
either did not intend to escape, or thought of it too 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 139 

late ; for all possibility of effecting such a design was 
effectually precluded by Earl Cornwallis's sending 
down from Wando inlet a waterforce, which, by 
Capt. Elphingstone's arrangement, effectually block- 
ed up the river : and the place surrendered on the 
12th of May. Lt. Col. Simcoe going to head quar- 
ters to congratulate the Commander in Chief, Sir H. 
Clinton was pleased to show him where he had in- 
tended to storm the town, had the enemy's obstinacy 
obliged him to that measure. The point from whence 
this attack was to have been made, had been private- 
ly reconnoitred by that gallant officer Capt. Hanger ; 
and that Charles Town was not stormed must ever be 
imputed to that humanity which is so bright a feature 
in the character of the British general. The Queen's 
Rangers marched to Dorchester and its environs, im- 
mediately after the capitulation. The air or the wa- 
ter at the quarter-house, had rendered the men sickly. 
They advanced to Fourhole-b ridge, where they remain- 
ed a day or two at Caton's, (an unfortunate loyalist, 
whom the rebels some time after assassinated,) from 
whence, by express order, they returned to Charles 
Town, as it was supposed, to embark on an expedition 
to Georgetown : they covered the head-quarters on the 
30th, and embarked on the 31st for New- York. 

Capt. Wickham of the Huzzars had by no means 
been idle while at Richmond : the post was such as 
might have been a temptation to an enterprising ene- 
my ; but Gen. Kniphausen, by frequent and well-con- 
certed expeditions, had kept the rebels fully employed 
in their own cantonments, the Jersies. On one of 



140 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

these attempts, the Huzzars of the Rangers were 
eminently distinguished, as was detailed to Lt. CoL 
Simcoe by Capt. Wickham, and by him read to the 
Commander in Chief, who was highly . satisfied with 
it. The report mentions, " that on the 15th of April, 
the cavalry on Stat en Island, consisting of Cornet 
Tucker and twenty of the 17th regiment, light dra- 
goons, Capt. Wickham with his troop of forty-five 
men, and Capt. Deimar with his huzzars, forty men ? 
crossed at Cole's ferry, and marched to English 
neighbourhood, where they joined Major Du Buy, 
with three hundred of the regiment De Bose and fifty 
of Col. Robinson's corps. At New-bridge Serjeant 
M'Laughlin, with six of the Rangers in advance, fell 
in with and either killed or took the whole of a small 
rebel out-post. The detachment then continued their 
march, leaving fifty infantry for the security of the 
bridge. At a convenient distance from Hopper 
Town, Major Du Buy gave his last orders for his sur- 
prise of CoL Bailey, with three hundred rebels, post- 
ed at that place : the major was particularly attentive 
to a minute description of their situation. Cornet 
Spencer with twelve ranger huzzars, and Cornet 
Tucker with the like number of the 17th regiment to 
support him, made the advance guard ; then followed 
Capt. Diemar with his troop : the infantry and the 
remainder of the cavalry closed the rear. Hopper 
Town is a straggling village, more than a mile long ; 
the farthest house was Col. Bailey's quarters; the 
nearest, a court-house which contained an officer's, 
piquet of twenty men, and which, if properly dispos- 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 141 

ed, covered a bridge over which the troops must pass. 
The advance was ordered to force the bridge, and to 
push forward at full speed, through the town, to head 
quarters : this they effected after receiving an inef- 
fectual fire from the piquet and from some of the 
windows : the rest of the cavalry dispersed, to pick 
up the fugitives and to take possession of the rebel's 
quarters, now abandoned. Cornet Spencer, on his 
arrival at his post with six men only, the rest not be- 
ing able to keep up, found about five and twenty men 
drawn up on the road, opposite him, and divided only 
by a hollow way and small brook, with Hopper's 
house on their right, and a strong fence and swamp 
on their left. The officer commanding them, whom 
he afterwards found to be Bailey, talked to his men 
and asked his officers, " Shall we fire now or take 
" possession of the house ;" the latter was agreed on. 
The house was of stone, with three windows below 
and two above : at the moment of their going in, 
Cornet Spencer with his party augmented to ten of 
his own, and by two of the 17th regiment, passed the 
ravine, and taking possession of the angles of the 
house, ordered some of his men to dismount and to 
attempt to force one of the windows. Some servants 
from a small out-house, commenced a fire : Corporal 
Burt with three men was sent to them, who broke the 
door open and took nine prisoners. Cornet Spencer 
made several offers to parley with those who defend- 
ed head quarters, but to no purpose ; they kept up a 
continual fire : finding it impossible to break the door 
open, which was attempted, and a man wounded 
11* 



142 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

through it, or to force any of the windows, he ordered 
fire to be brought from the out-house, with which he 
set one angle of the roof, which was of wood, in 
flames : he again offered them quarter if they would 
surrender ; they still refused, though the flames were 
greatly increased. By this time some of the speedi- 
est of the cavalry had come to his assistance : the 
firing ceased. Captains Deimar and Wickham, &c, 
who had collected a great number of prisoners, and 
left some few men to guard them, until the infantry 
should come up, now joined the advance. Col. Bai- 
ley, as he opened the door to surrender, was unfortu- 
nately shot by one of Captain Deimar's huzzars, and 
died three days after. Of the advance guard two 
men and three horses were killed, and two men and 
two horses wounded : and one man and one horse of 
the 17th regiment were also killed. In this house 
Col. Bailey, two captains, three subalterns, and twen- 
ty-one soldiers were taken. In the whole* twelve 
officers, with one hundred and eighty-two men were 
made prisoners. The party returned by the same 
route they had advanced, with little opposition and 
no loss. The plan of this expedition was well laid, 
and as well executed : Major Du Buy seemed to be 
master of the country through which he had to pass, 
and was well seconded by Capt. Deimar. Major Du 
Buy was pleased to honour the huzzars of the Rang- 
ers with his particular thanks and approbation. The 
house was well defended, and the death of the gallant 
Colonel Bailey was very much regretted by his oppo- 
nents." 



*S ** 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 143 

On the 21st of June the regiment landed at Staten 
Island, and marched to Richmond redoubts. At mid- 
night Lt. Col. Simcoe received orders to proceed in- 
stantly to the Jersies, where General Kniphausen 
having thrown a bridge of boats over the Sound, 
near Elizabethtown Point, was encamped : the huz- 
zars of the Rangers here joined the corps. Lieut. 
M'Nab had found an opportunity of distinguishing 
himself by the intrepidity and boldness with which he 
advanced into Elizabethtown, amidst the fire of the 
enemy who possessed it, in order to entice them to 
follow him into an ambuscade, which Capt. Archdale, 
of the 17th dragoons (who had the temporary com- 
mand of the Provincial cavalry) had very skilfully 
laid for them ; but which they were too cautious to 
fall into. That evening the Queen's Rangers and 
Yagers, under the command of Col. Wurmb, attack- 
ed the enemy's advance post, for the purpose of tak- 
ing some prisoners, who might give intelligence ; in 
which they succeeded, with the loss of a Yager, and 
an huzzar of the Rangers, who were killed. 

On the 23d of June, M. Gen. Mathews with a divi- 
sion of the troops, marched before day towards 
Springfield : the Rangers made the advance guard. 
The enemy's smaller parties fell back upon a larger 
one, which was well posted on an eminence, covered 
on the right by a thicket, and on the left by an 
orchard : the road ran in a deep hollow between 
them. While the battalions of Gen. Skinner's brig- 
ade, who flanked the march, were exchanging shot 
with these troops, Lt. Col. Simcoe closed the compa- 



144 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

nies of the Rangers, and directed them to rush down 
the hollow road in column without firing, and then by 
wheeling to the right, to ascend to the orchard and 
divide the enemy's parties : this was done, and Capt. 
Stevenson who led with the riflemen and light infant- 
ry company, obtained the ground on their flank with- 
out loss, making several prisoners : the enemy fled, 
and the Rangers pursued closely on the right, where 
the ridge continued, and which commanded the road, 
virtually, becoming a flanking party to the line of 
march. In the mean time, the enemy who had been 
posted on the left retreated up the road, which led 
through a plain, unpursued : the line for some time 
leaving it to follow the Queen's Rangers, who having 
dispersed the party they pursued, now made the ut- 
most exertions to cut off the retreat of the other 
division : the circuit they had to take rendered this 
design ineffectual. The enemy retired over the 
bridge near Springfield, where they had some troops 
and cannon ; they fired a few shot, by which two of 
the Rangers were killed as they slept, M. General 
Mathews halting till the arrival of Gen. Kniphausen, 
with the main body of the army ; he then made a 
circuit with his division to pass the river higher up, 
on the right. The troops halted for a considerable 
time on a height, below which ran a little brook, and 
cannonaded small parties of the enemy scattered up 
and down in the fields and woods, which shelved at a 
considerable distance from the Newark hills. A very 
heavy fire being heard from Gen. Kniphausen's co- 
lumn, the troops proceeded unopposed over the 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 145 

brook : the enemy appeared beyond a second bridge, 
and possessing the heights, seemed to be drawn up in 
small bodies by echelon, so as to concentre their tire 
upon the road. Lt. Col. Simcoe advanced towards 
the bridge in column, when rapidly forming the line, 
and extending it to the left, he passed the deep gully 
covered by the thickets, and by the riflemen whom 
Lt. Shaw had well disposed of, and out-reached the 
enemy's left : they immediately fell back, with too 
much precipitation to be overtaken by the Rangers, 
who were forming for that purpose, and with too 
much order to be adventured upon by a few men, 
whom Lt. Col. Simcoe had collected and brought se- 
cretly through the thickets upon their flank. The 
Rangers met with no loss ; the gallant Lt. Shaw was 
slightly wounded. The column then marched to 
Springfield, which Gen. Kniphausen, on hearing the 
cannonade from Gen. Mathews, had forced ; on their 
arrival there, most of the army re-crossed the river, 
and the Rangers received orders to follow in the rear 
over the bridge, where it was intended to halt for two 
or three hours to refresh the troops, who, it was now 
evident, were to return to Elizabethtown Point. Lt. 
Col. Simcoe thought proper to accompany the offi- 
cer, who brought this order, to Gen. Kniphausen, and 
to represent to him that the Rangers, who lay in an 
orchard full of deep hollows, which secured them 
from the enemy's shot, were in a much more favour- 
able position to cover the army than if they crossed 
the river ; and it being obvious, that while this posi- 
tion was maintained, the enemy could not be certain 



146 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

whether the British army meant to return towards 
Staten Island or advance, they would not hazard the 
passing their light troops over the river on the flanks 
of the army in readiness to molest them in their pre- 
sent position and future march. Gen. Kniphausen 
directed Lt. Col. Simcoe to maintain his post, and 
some Yagers were sent to cover his left, and a bat- 
talion of Gen. Skinner's his right flank. In the mean 
time Gen. Greene, with the gross of his army, occu- 
pied a strong position upon the hills, near a mile and 
a half in front of the advanced corps : his troops and 
his cannon in general were in ambuscade. He de- 
tached two or three field pieces to the right flank of 
the British, which canonaded them for some time, 
but with little effect ; and his militia and light troops 
in great numbers came as close to the front as the 
intervening thickets could shelter them, and kept up 
a constant though irregular fire from every side. Most 
of these shot passed over the heads of the Rangers, 
while some, which were fired at a greater distance, 
dropped with little effect in the hollows which con- 
cealed them. On their right ran a rivulet, forming 
small and swampy islets, covered with thickets ; as 
under favour of this ground the enemy were gradu- 
ally approaching, Lt. Col. Simcoe waded to one of 
them with Captain Kerr, whom with his company he 
left in ambuscade, with orders, if the enemy advanc- 
ed, to give them one well-directed fire, and immedi- 
ately to re-cross to the regiment. Captain Kerr exe- 
cuted his orders judiciously, many of the enemy were 
seen to fall : the thicket he quitted was not again 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 147 

attempted by them, but it became the centre to which 
the principal part of their fire was directed. The 
troops having halted two or three hours, began their 
march to Elizabethtown : the advance corps covered 
the retreat, and re-passed the bridge without molesta- 
tion. It was a considerable time before the enemy 
perceived their movement, nor did they become trou- 
blesome till the Yagers, who made the rear guard, 
had nearly ascended the heights where the army was 
to divide into two columns ; the one on the right was 
closed by the Yagers, that on the left by the Rangers. 
The columns marched on, and it appearing that the 
Yagers might be pressed, the Rangers returned to 
their assistance, and the enemy retired. The troops 
proceeded towards Elizabethtown with little inter- 
ruption. The riflemen of the Queen's Rangers, now 
commanded by Serjeant M'Pherson, were eminently 
distinguished on this retreat. The enemy's militia, 
who followed the army, were kept by them at such a 
distance, that very few shot reached the battalion ; 
and they concealed themselves so admirably that 
none of them were wounded, whilst they scarcely 
returned a shot in vain. There being at one time an 
appearance that the enemy meant to occupy a tongue 
of wood, which ran between the columns, Lt. Col. 
Simcoe requested of Colonel Howard, who com- 
manded the guards, to post some divisions of them 
in echelon behind the various fences, so as to protect 
his flank, masque the wood, and in some measure to 
extend and to approach nearer to the right column ; 
the Colonel assented : but as the enemy were not in 



148 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

sufficient numbers to advance, the army returned to 
their former encampment. The Rangers had two 
men killed, Lieut. Shaw and nine privates slightly 
wounded : the huzzar, Wright, had his horse wound- 
ed ; but a great many soldiers had marks of the ene- 
my's bullets in their clothes and knapsacks : the Jer- 
sey militia suffered considerably, and among others 
Fitz Randolph, one of their best officers, was killed. 
At night the troops passed over the bridge to Staten 
Island ; the retreat being covered by two redoubts, 
occupied by troops of the line, who embarked, on the 
bridge being broken up, without molestation. 

The Rangers embarked the next morning, and sail- 
ing up the North river, landed on the 25th, and pro- 
ceeded to Odle's Hill, their position in front of the 
line. It now appeared, that the commander in chief 
had hurried from Charles Town, and withdrawn Gen. 
Kniphausen from the Jersies, on the intimation of a 
French armament being destined for Rhode Island, 
and with the hopes of attacking it to advantage, on 
its arrival : he had encamped the army near Kings- 
bridge, for the purpose of embarking them with the 
greater facility. Lt. Col. Simcoe was obliged to go 
to New-York to recover his health ; and the regi- 
ment was in general very sickly. The refugees, who 
had taken post on the banks of the North river, in 
the rebel country, were attacked by Gen. Wayne, 
whom they gallantly repulsed : amidst the fire, Cock- 
rane, the brave huzzar, who had been left at Mon- 
mouth, quitted the rebels with whom he had enlisted, 
and risking every hazard, got in to the post, and re- 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 149 

joined his comrades. On the 19th of July Lieut. Col 
Simcoe joined his corps, and proceeded with it to 
Long Island, crossing the sound at Flushing. He 
marched to Huntingdon, where an hundred of the 
militia cavalry, of the island, joined him : this corps 
was destined to secure the communication over-land 
between the fleet, which lay off the eastern end of 
the island, and New- York. Lieut. Col. Simcoe pro- 
ceeded on his route without delay ; at the same time, 
through the adjutant general, Major Andre, he com- 
municated his wishes, and his hopes to the Comman- 
der in Chief, that in case of any attack on Rhode 
Island, he would employ the Rangers in it ; to which 
Major Andre replied, " The General assures you, 
" that the Rangers shall be pitted against a French 
" regiment the first time he can procure a meeting." 
The Queen's Rangers remained about the Points, 
on the east end of the island, till the 9th of August, 
when they fell back to Coram, from whence they 
returned eastward on the 15th, being joined by the 
King's American regiment, which Lt. Col. Simcoe 
was ordered to detach to Riverhead, and he himself 
met the Commander in Chief, who was now on his 
journey by the Admiral's invitation to hold a confer- 
ence with him. Sir H. Clinton sent him to the Ad- 
miral Arbuthnot, whose fleet at that time was anchor- 
ed in Gardiner's Bay, but which sailed from thence 
before the Commander in Chief could arrive. The 
Queen's Rangers returned to Oyster Bay on the 23d 
of August. This march, of near three hundred miles, 
had been made very fatiguing by the uncommonly hot 
12 



150 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

weather, which rendered the Pine barren, through 
which the roads principally lay, as close and sultry in 
the night as in the day time. The troops had been 
obliged to subsist on the country ; a militia dragoon 
who was sent express to the Adjutant General to 
inform him what difficulty there was in procuring 
provisions for the troops, and the hardship which 
consequently fell upon the inhabitants, was waylaid, 
taken and robbed, by a party from the rebel shore, at 
Smith Town. As this had been formerly the case, 
and it was obvious that no party could remain secret- 
ed unknown to the inhabitants, Lieut. Col. Simcoe 
obtained leave of the Commander in Chief, to raise a 
contribution from the inhabitants of eighty pounds 
currency, one half to reimburse the militia man, for 
what was taken from him, and the other to recom- 
pense him for the chagrin he must necessarily have 
been under in not being able to execute his orders : 
this, probably, was the only contribution levied by 
the King's troops during the war. 

On the 25th of August, the Commander in Chief 
augmented the Rangers with two troops of dragoons, 
appointed Lt. Col. Simcoe to be Lieutenant Colonel 
of cavalry ; and the infantry Captains, Saunders and 
Shank, officers of distinguished merit, to the addi- 
tional troops : the corps remained at Oyster Bay and 
its vicinity, until the 22d of September, when it 
marched to Jamaica. 

Sir H. Clinton had been pleased to entrust Lt. Col. 
Simcoe with knowledge of the important negotiation, 
which terminated so unfortunatelv in the death of 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 151 

Major Andre ; and at the same time, he informed 
him on what service he should eventually employ him 
if it took effect, and directed him to obtain as minute 
a knowledge as he could of the country, where future 
operations were likely to be carried on. The prepa- 
rations for the execution of this great design were 
effectually concealed, by an expedition being in for- 
wardness to proceed to the southward, under General 
Leslie : the Queen's Rangers were generally supposed 
to be destined for this service. Lt. Col. Simcoe, had 
this been the intention, must have commanded the 
cavalry ; and he had in a former conversation with 
Gen. Leslie, represented, that although no men could 
possibly be more useful or more brave than the Huz- 
zars of the Rangers, yet as he never had leisure pro- 
perly to instruct them in the regular system of caval- 
ry, or, indeed, had any occasion to employ them on 
any but desultory services, and, on the other hand, as 
the enemy had every means of establishing a well- 
mounted and solid body of cavalry, he requested, that 
the General would ask from the Commander in Chief, 
a detachment of forty of the Seventeenth of dragoons, 
to whom he would add a similar number from his 
dragoons now forming, and the stoutest of the huz- 
zars, and that this squadron should be carefully pre- 
served from all the smaller services of light troops, 
and kept as a constant reserve to support the huz- 
zars, and to be opposed to the enemy's cavalry : Gen. 
Leslie was pleased to approve of Lt. Col. Simcoe's 
representations. The Commander in Chief's design 
proving abortive, the Queen's Rangers crossed from 



152 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

Long to Staten Island, and marched to Richmond re- 
doubts on the 8th of October. 

Some circumstances relative to Major Andre's un- 
fortunate attempt, will be more fully detailed in the 
appendix : the Commander in Chief thinking it pro- 
per, in the general orders, to publish the high idea 
which he entertained of him both as a gentleman and 
an officer, and the sense he entertained of the loss 
his King and country had met with in his death, Lt. 
Col. Simcoe, who considered his execution as a bar- 
barous and ungenerous act of power in the American 
general, and who had certain and satisfactory intelli- 
gence that the French party in general, and M. Fay- 
ette in particular, who sat upon his trial, urged Mr. 
Washington to the unnecessary deed, took the oppor- 
tunity in his orders to the Queen's Rangers, the offi- 
cers and soldiers of which personally knew and 
esteemed Major Andre, to inform them, that " He 
" had given directions that the regiment should imme- 
" diately be provided with black and white feathers as 
"mourning, for the late Major Andre, an officer 
" whose superior integrity and uncommon ability did 
" honour to his country, and to human nature. The 
" Queen's Rangers will never sully their glory in the 
" field by any undue severity : they will, as they have 
" ever done, consider those to be under their protec- 
" tion who shall be in their power, and will strike 
" with reluctance at their unhappy fellow subjects, 
" who, by a system of the basest artifices, have been 
" seduced from their allegiance, and disciplined to 
" revolt : but it is the Lt. Colonel's most ardent hope,, 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 153 

"that on the close of some decisive victory, it will 
" be the regiment's fortune to secure the murderers of 
" Major Andre, for the vengeance due to an injured 
" nation, and an insulted army." 

Capt. Saunders with his Lieut. Wilson, and Cornet 
Merit embarked for Virginia, with Gen. Leslie : he 
was a native of Princess Anne County, possessed 
property there, and had distinguished himself in the 
Earl of Dunmore's active enterprises in that colony : 
he carried with him several dragoons, and expected 
to complete his troop in that province. At this time 
Lt. Col. Simcoe, who had frequently in conversation 
with the Commander in Chief, expatiated on the ad- 
vantages he thought might accrue to his Majesty's 
service, by a post being seized and maintained at 
Billing's Port, on the Delaware river, recapitulated 
some of his ideas, by the letter which is in the ap- 
pendix. 

From the earliest period of the war, Lt. Col. Sim- 
coe had felt it his duty to cultivate the good opinion 
of the loyalists : he had been fortunate in obtaining 
it by his conduct to the inhabitants of Pennsylvania, 
and upon the abandoning of that province had still 
maintained it. The Buck's County volunteers, com- 
manded by Capt. Thomas, had, as much as suited 
with their independent spirit, acted with the Queen's 
Rangers, embarked on expeditions with them, and 
had considered themselves as under Lt. Col. Simcoe's 
protection. A considerable body of the loyalists, 
seated near the waters of the Chesapeake, had asso- 
ciated themselves for the purpose of restoring the 
12* 



154 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

royal government, and this they began at a period 
when, from the British troops having evacuated Penn- 
sylvania, they saw, that it was from their own exer- 
tions only, that they could expect emancipation from 
the fetters of usurpation : a correspondence was car- 
ried on with the leaders of these loyalists by Major 
Andre, and to which Lieut. Col. Simcoe was privy. 
Soon after his death, their agent, who was in New- 
York, gave to Lt. Col. Simcoe a paper from them, 
the purport of which was, to desire that he would 
forward to Lord George Germain their requisition, 
which accompanied it, " That he, Lt. Col Simcoe, 
" might be detached with a thousand men to a cer- 
" tain place, with arms, and that they to the amount 
" of some thousands would instantly join and declare 
" for government : it concluded with the strongest 
" encomiums on the character of the officer whom 
" they wished to command them, and of the confi- 
" dence with which they would take up arms under 
" his direction." Lieut. Col. Simcoe answered the 
agent, that although nothing on earth could be more 
grateful to him than the terms of this letter, yet, as a 
subordinate officer, he would upon no account forward 
any plan, or offer, to Great Britain, without the know- 
ledge of the Commander in Chief; and that although, 
as he gathered from their language, Sir Henry Clin- 
ton might appear to the loyalists to be slow in his pro- 
gress to give them effectual support, yet that he was 
confident, this opinion would be found to be the result 
of their anxiety and zeal, rather than any knowledge 
which they could possibly have of the means within 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 155 

his power, or of his intentions in their application. 
In a short time, the paper was sent back, and return- 
ed in such a form as made it not improper for Lt. Col. 
Simcoe to show it to the Commander in Chief; and 
then, with his approbation, he returned the following 
answer to the associates : " The gentleman, to whom 
" our situation has been by your directions entrusted, 
" is most sensible of the honour conferred upon him ; 
" to say, that he is ready to risk his life in our service, 
" is only to say, that he is ready to do his duty as a 
" citizen and as a British officer. He hopes, that 
" Providence will permit him to establish the good 
" opinion our friends entertain of him by more than 
" words : he bids me assure you that he has authori- 
" ty to say, that you are and have been a great and 
" constant object of the concern and attention of the 
" Commander in Chief, whose system you cannot but 
" see is to unravel the thread of rebellion from the 
" southward ; and that in his progress your most 
" valued assistance will be depended upon ; but that 
" he is anxious not to expose you, nor must you ex- 
" pose yourselves in aid of any kind of desultory 
" expeditions, neither meant nor calculated to take 
" possession of or to keep your country : such may 
" be made to distress the enemy ; but you are most 
" strictly enjoined, not to consider them as intended 
" for any other object, until by his public proclama- 
" tion, or such private intelligence as you can depend 
"upon, it shall be signified to you, that you are to 
" take up arms, and actively maintain that hallowed 
" cause, for which you have suffered so much, and 



156 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

" which you have so nobly, and so conscientiously 
" supported." 

It was generally supposed about the latter end of 
October that the enemy meditated some attempt on 
Staten Island. M. de Fayette was in the neighbour- 
hood of Elizabethtown, in force and with boats on 
travelling carriages. Lt. Col. Simcoe by public con- 
versation, the means of spies, and by marching to 
Billop's point in the dusk of the evening, so as to be 
discovered from the opposite shore, and then return- 
ing by ways which the enemy could not see, had en- 
deavoured to attract their notice, and to possess them 
with a belief, that an inroad into the Jersies was in 
contemplation. As M. Fayette arrived in the vicinity 
the very day subsequent to this feint, it was reasona- 
ble to believe that his march was in consequence, and 
that the boats with him were destined to facilitate his 
passage across the small creeks with which the Jer- 
sies are intersected, in case of the British troops 
making any incursions into that country. Every 
proper precaution was taken by the troops in Rich- 
mond to prevent a surprise : on the 12th of Novem- 
ber, official information was sent by the Adjutant 
General to Lt. Col. Simcoe, that his post was the ob- 
ject of Fayette's design, and that it probably would 
be attacked on that or the ensuing night ; he imme- 
diately declared in orders, " The Lt. Colonel has re- 
" ceived information that M. Fayette, a Frenchman, 
tf at the head of some of his Majesty's deluded sub- 
"jects, has threatened to plant French colours on 
" Richmond redoubts. The Lt. Colonel believes the 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 157 

" report to be a gasconade ; but as the evident ruin 
" of the enemy's affairs may prompt them to some 
" desperate attempt, the Queen's Rangers will lay in 
" their clothes this night, and have their bayonets in 
" perfect good order." The Highlanders immediate- 
ly assembled and marched to the redoubt, which, in 
the distribution of posts, was allotted to them to de- 
fend, and displaying their national banner, with which 
they used to commemorate their saint's day, fixed it 
on the ramparts, saying, " No Frenchman, or rebel, 
" should ever pull that down." The Rangers were 
prepared if an attack should be made on the water- 
ing place, which appeared to be most probable, to 
march out and attack any division which might be 
placed, as had been in Lord Stirling's attempt, to 
mask the troops in Richmond : two field pieces, six 
pounders, and Capt. Althause's company of riflemen 
had reinforced them. Lt. Col. Simcoe made himself 
acquainted with the landing places, and the interven- 
ing grounds, in the minutest particular, and he had 
the Commander in Chief's directions to abandon his 
post, " If the enemy should land in such force as to 
" make, in his opinion, the remaining there attended 
" with risk." The defects of Richmond were not suf- 
ficiently obvious for such inexperienced men as the 
rebel generals, to seize upon and profit by at once : 
how far they might attract the instantaneous notice 
of the scientific French officers, supposed to be act- 
ing with them, it was not easy to foresee. Had the 
enemy been in a situation to have attacked the place 
by regular approaches, Lt. Col. Simcoe would have 



158 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

done his best endeavours to have maintained it ; but 
had any General, at the head of a very superior force 
on the moment of his appearance, placed twenty or 
thirty field pieces, on two separate eminences which 
enfiladed the redoubts, and formed a column to pene- 
trate under cover of the cross fire, he had resolved to 
abandon what he considered in case of such a dispo- 
sition to be untenable. A false alarm, which was 
given by an armed vessel stationed in Newark Bay, 
occasioned a considerable movement in the army ; 
and troops from New- York embarked to reinforce 
Staten Island ; the post at Richmond was supposed 
to be the object of an attack. On the first gun being 
fired, patroles had been made on all sides by the ca- 
valry, and the infantry slept undisturbed, Lieut. Col. 
Simcoe apprehending the alarm to be false. The 
Rangers were very alert on guard, and proud of their 
regimental character, of not giving false alarms, or 
being surprised ; and the sentinel, as Lt. Col. Simcoe 
remarked in orders upon the only omission, which 
ever came under his cognizance, " Felt a manly plea- 
" sure in reflecting, that the lives and honour of the 
" regiment was entrusted to his care, and that under 
" his protection his comrades slept in security." 

On the 11th of December, the Queen's Rangers em- 
barked on an expedition to Virginia, under the com- 
mand of Gen. Arnold : Capt. Althause's company of 
York Volunteers embarked with them, as did Capt. 
Thomas of the Bucks County Volunteers. The Com- 
mander in Chief had directed Lt. Col. Simcoe to raise 
another troop of dragoons, the command of which 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 159 

was given to Lt. Cooke of the 17th of dragoons, who 
remained in New York to recruit it. The troops un- 
der Gen. Arnold being embarked, he issued an order 
on the 20th of December against depredations in the 
country where the expedition was bound to, and in 
the most forcible terms and strongest manner, called 
upon the officers to second his intentions and the 
Commander in Chief's orders in this respect. The 
expedition sailed from Sandy Hook on the 21st of 
December, and arrived in the Chesapeake, but in a 
dispersed manner, on the 30th : several ships were 
missing. General Arnold without waiting for them, 
was enabled, by the fortunate capture which the ad- 
vance frigate, under Capt. Evans, had made of some 
small American vessels, to push up the James river, 
and this was done with incomparable activity and des- 
patch : the whole detachment showing an energy and 
alacrity that could not be surpassed. The enemy had 
a battery at Hood's point, and there was as yet no 
certainty whether or not it was defended by an en- 
closed work. The vessels anchored near it late in 
the evening of the 3d of January ; one of them, in 
which was Capt. Murray of the Queen's Rangers, not 
perceiving the signal for anchoring, was fired at. Upon 
the first shot the skipper and his people left the deck; 
when Capt. Murray seized the helm, and the soldiers 
assisting him, he passed by the fort without any dam- 
age from its fire, and anchored above it. Gen. Arn- 
old ordered Lt. Col. Simcoe to land with one hundred 
and thirty of the Queen's Rangers and the light in- 
fantry, and grenadiers of the 80th regiment : the land- 



160 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

ing was effected silently and apparently with secrecy 
about a mile from the battery, and a circuit was made 
to surprise its garrison : in the mean time the fleet 
was fired upon, but ineffectually on account of its dis- 
tance. On the detachment's approach through bye 
paths, to Hood's, the flank companies of the 80th were 
ordered to file from the rear and to proceed rapidly to 
the battery, while the Rangers were ready to support 
them, or to receive any enemy who might possibly be 
on their march from the adjacent country. Major 
Gordon on his approach found the battery totally 
abandoned ; the concerted signal was made, and the 
fleet anchored near it. General Arnold came on 
shore ; and it appeared that a patrole had discovered 
the boats as they rowed to the landing. Capt. Mur- 
ray had heard them as they approached the shore, 
and with his accustomed zeal had got into his boat 
ready to assist if called for : the battery was dis- 
mounted and the troops re-embarked in the morning, 
Gen. Arnold pushing the expedition up the river with 
the utmost celerity. On the arrival at Westover, the 
troops were immediately disembarked : at first, from 
the reports of the country of the force that was as- 
sembling to defend Richmond, Gen. Arnold hesitated 
whether he should proceed thither or not, his positive 
injunctions being not to undertake any enterprise that 
had much risk in it ; but Lt. Colonels Dundas and 
Simcoe, concurring that one day's march might be 
made with perfect security, and that by this means 
more perfect information might be obtained, the troops 
were immediately put in motion and proceeded towards 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 161 

Richmond, where the enemy was understood to have 
very considerable magazines : it was above thirty 
miles from Westover ; several transports had not ar- 
rived, and Gen. Arnold's force did not amount to eight 
hundred men. On the second day's march, whilst a 
bridge was replacing over a creek, the advanced guard 
only having passed over, some of the enemy's militia, 
who had destroyed it the evening before, and were to 
assemble with others to defend it, were deceived by 
the dress of the Rangers, and came to Lt. Col. Sim- 
coe, who immediately reprimanded them for not com- 
ing sooner, held conversation with them, and then sent 
them prisoners to General Arnold. Within seven miles 
of Richmond a patrole of the enemy appeared, who, on 
being discovered, fled at full speed : the Queen's Ran- 
gers, whose horses were in a miserable condition from 
the voyage, could not pursue them. Soon after Lt. 
Col. Simcoe halted, having received the clearest in- 
formation that a road, made passable by wood carts, 
led through the thickets to the rear of the heights on 
which the town of Richmond was placed, where they 
terminated in a plain, although they were almost in- 
accessible by the common road : on giving this infor- 
mation to Gen. Arnold, he said it was not worth while 
to quit the road, as the enemy would not fight. On 
approaching the town, Gen. Arnold ordered the troops 
to march as open and to make as great an appearance, 
as possible ; and the ground was so favourable that a 
more skilfull enemy than those who were now recon- 
noitering, would have imagined the numbers to have 
been double. The enemy at Richmond appeared 
13 



16? JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

drawn up on the heights to the number of two or three 
hundred men : the road passed through a wood at the 
bottom of these heights, and then ran between them 
and the river into the lower town. Lt. Col. Simcoe was 
ordered to dislodge them : he mounted the hill in small 
bodies, stretching away to the right, so as to threaten 
the enemy with a design to outflank them ; and as they 
filed off, in appearance to secure their flank, he di- 
rectly ascended with his cavalry, where it was so 
steep that they were obliged to dismount and lead their 
horses. Luckily the enemy made no resistance, nor 
did they fire ; but on the cavalry's arrival on the sum- 
mit, retreated to the woods in great confusion : there 
was a party of horsemen in the lower town, watching 
the motion of Lt. Col. Dundas, who, the heights be- 
ing gained, was now entering it. Lt. Col. Simcoe 
pushed on with the cavalry unnoticed by the enemy 
in the lower town, till such time as he began to de- 
scend almost in their rear, when an impassable creek 
stopped him, and gave the enemy time to escape to the 
top of another hill beyond the town. Having crossed 
over lower down, he ascended the hill, using such con- 
versation and words towards them as might prevent 
their inclination to retreat; however, when the Rangers 
were arrived within twenty yards of the summit, the en- 
emy greatly superior in numbers, but made up of militia, 
spectators, some with and some without arms, galloped 
off; they were immediately pursued, but without the 
least regularity : Capt. Shank and Lt. Spencer, who had 
met with good horses in the country, far distanced the 
rest of the cavalry. Lt. Col. Simcoe left an officer 









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Skirmish at RICHMOND Jan .5*17 81. 

id rnAaar^.ReMCa.vairy: C.guee/Us Rangers I) tQizeen* RcingersCaralry^faersS.fiTltisk Ai 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 163 

to mark the position he meant his infantry to take on 
their arrival, and collecting all the men he could over- 
take, followed Capt. Shank, anxious lest his ardour 
should prove fatal : he had pursued the enemy four 
or five miles, six or seven of whom he had taken with 
several horses ; a very well timed capture. On Lt. 
Col. Simcoe's return, he met with orders from Gen. 
Arnold to march to the foundery at Westham, six 
miles from Richmond, and to destroy it ; the flank 
companies of the 80th, under Major Gordon, were 
sent as a reinforcement. With these and his corps 
he proceeded to the foundery : the trunnions of many 
pieces of iron cannon were struck off, a quantity of 
small arms and a great variety of military stores were 
destroyed. Upon consultation with the artillery offi- 
cer, it was thought better to destroy the magazine than 
to blow it up, this fatiguing business was effected by 
carrying the powder down the clifts, and pouring it into 
the water ; the warehouses and mills were then set 
on fire, and many explosions happened in different 
parts of the buildings, which might have been haz- 
ardous had it been relied on, that all the powder was 
regularly deposited in one magazine ; and the foun- 
dery, which was a very complete one, was totally de- 
stroyed. It was night before the troops returned to 
Richmond ; the provisions which had been made for 
them were now to be cooked : fatigued with the 
march, the men in general went to sleep, some of them 
got into private houses and there obtained rum. In 
the morning Gen. Arnold determined to return ; but 
Lt. Col. Simcoe requested that he would halt half the 



164 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

day. The enemy were drawn up on the opposite side 
of the river so that no enterprise could be expected 
from them ; and the whole of the Rangers having 
been extremely fatigued the day before, without any 
men having been left to cook for them, were in a great 
measure in want of sustenance. Gen. Arnold was 
sensible of the reasonableness of the request, but he 
thought it most advisable to return ; and he gave as 
his reason, that if Gen. Tryon and Sir William Er- 
skine had marched two hours sooner from Danbury, 
on their expedition there, they would have met with 
no opposition ; and if they had delayed it much longer, 
they would have found it absolutely impossible to have 
regained their shipping. The roads were rendered 
by the rain slippery and difficult, and in most places 
were narrow and overhung by bushes, so that the 
troops were frequently obliged to march by files, which 
made it impossible for the officers, who were on foot, 
to see far before them, and to take their customary 
precautions. When it became dark, if any man 
through an intention of deserting quitted his ranks, or 
in the frequent haltings, overpowered by fatigue, fell 
asleep, (which those who have suffered it, well know 
brings on a total disregard of all consequences, even 
of life itself,) he escaped notice and was irrecovera- 
bly lost ; nine men of the Rangers either deserted or 
were taken by the country people on this march : the 
troops arrived at a very late hour at the ground on 
which they were to encamp, and where they passed 
a wet and tempestuous night. Gen. Arnold returned 
the next day to Westover, preceded by Lt. Col. Sim- 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 165 

coe with the huzzars, to communicate the earliest in- 
telligence to the fleet. 

While the troops were halting at Westover to 
refresh themselves, no intelligence could be received : 
the militia of the lower counties gathering together 
and blocking up the country ; parties of them ap- 
peared in force on the heights divided from Westover 
by a creek, and covered the peninsula which it formed 
with the James river. Gen. Arnold directed a patrole 
to be made on the night of the eighth of January 
towards Long Bridge, in order to procure intelligence 
Lt. Col. Simcoe marched with forty cavalry, for the 
most part badly mounted, on such horses as had 
been picked up in the country ; but the patrole had 
not proceeded above two miles before Serjeant Kelly, 
who was in advance was challenged : he parlied with 
the videttes, till he got nearer to them, when rushing 
at them, one he got hold of, the other flung himself 
off his horse and escaped into the bushes ; a negro 
was also taken whom these videttes had intercepted 
on his way to the British army. From these people 
information was obtained that the enemy was assem- 
bled at Charles City Court house, and that the corps 
which had appeared in the day time opposite West- 
over, nearly to the amount of four hundred men, lay 
about two miles in advance of their main-body, and 
on the road to Westover. The party were immedi- 
ately ordered to the right about, and to march towards 
them ; Lt. Holland, who was similar in size to the 
vidette who had been taken, was placed in advance : 
the negro had promised to guide the party so as to 
13* 



166 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

avoid the high road, and to conduct them by an un- 
frequented pathway, which led close to the creek, 
between the body, which was supposed to be in ad- 
vance, and that which was at Charles City Court 
house ; Lt. Col. Simcoe's intention was to beat up 
the main body of the enemy, who trusting to those 
in front might reasonably be supposed to be off their 
guard ; in case of repulse he meant to retreat by the 
private way on which he advanced, and should he be 
successful it was optional to attack the advance party 
or not, on his return. The patrole passed through a 
wood, where it halted to collect, and had scarcely got 
into the road when the advance was challenged ; Lt 
Holland answered, " A friend," gave the countersign 
procured from the prisoner, " It is I, me, Charles," 
the name of the person he personated : he passed one 
vidette whom Serjeant Kelly seized, and himself 
caught hold of the other, who in a struggle proved too 
strong for him, got free, presented and snapped his 
carbine at his breast ; luckily it did not go off, but 
the man galloped away, and at some distance fired, 
the signal of alarm ; the advance division immediately 
rushed on, and soon arrived at the Court-house ; a 
confused and scattered firing began on all sides ; Lt. 
Col. Simcoe sent the bugle horns, French and Barney, 
through an enclosure to the right, with orders to an- 
swer his challenging, and sound when he ordered ; 
he then called loudly for the light infantry, and 
hollowed " sound the advance ;" the bugles were 
sounded as had been directed, and the enemy fled on 
all sides, scarcely firing another shot. The night was 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 167 

very dark, and the party totally unacquainted with 
the ground. Part of the dragoons were dismounted 
and mixed with the huzzars ; some of the enemy 
were taken, others wounded, and a few were drowned 
in a mill-dam. In saving three armed militia men 
from the fury of the soldiers, Lt. Col. Simcoe ran a 
great risque, as their pieces were loaded, pointed to 
his breast, and in their timidity they might have dis- 
charged them. From the prisoners he learnt that the 
whole of their force was here assembled, and that 
there w T as no party in advance : the soldiers were 
mounted as soon as possible, nor could they be per- 
mitted to search the houses where many were con- 
cealed, lest the enemy should gain intelligence of 
their numbers, and attack them ; and this might easily 
be done as the darkness of the night prevented the 
Rangers from seeing around them, while they were 
plainly to be distinguished by the fires which the 
enemy had left. It appeared that the militia were 
commanded by Gen. Nelson, and consisted of seven 
or eight hundred men : they were completely fright- 
ened and dispersed, many of them not stopping till 
they reached Williamsburgh. Serjeant Adams of the 
huzzars was mortally wounded j this gallant soldier, 
sensible of his situation, said " My beloved Colonel 
" I do not mind dying, but for God's sake do not 
" leave me in the hands of the rebels :" Trumpeter 
French and two huzzars were wounded ; about a 
dozen excellent horses were seasonably captured. 

The enemy did not appear during the time the 
troops stayed at Westover, nor attempted to harrass 



168 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

their rear as had been threatened : the remainder of 
the forces arrived the next day. In the embarkation 
from New -York, the horse vessels were very bad, in- 
famously provided, and totally unfit for service, in 
consequence, above forty horses had been thrown 
overboard ; the very Skippers were fearful of sailing, 
and it required every exertion of the Quarter-Masters 
to oblige them to weigh anchor, and, at sea, the ut- 
most industry and labour could barely prevent them 
from foundering. 

Serjeant Adams died at Westover the 9th; the 
corps attended his funeral ; he was buried in the 
colours which had been displayed and taken from 
Hood's battery. On the 10th of January Gen. Arnold 
embarked and dropped down to Flour de Hundred ; 
at night he ordered Lt. Col. Simcoe to land : the 
General had information that a party of militia, with 
cannon, were assembled at Bland's mills, and he in- 
tended to surprize them. On the approach to the 
shore, people were plainly heard talking, who galloped 
off on the imaginary gun-boats being loudly ordered 
to point their cannon towards the shore : on the 
Queen's Rangers landing, Lt. Col. Simcoe placed 
Capt. Ewald in ambuscade ; that gallant and able 
officer, with the remainder of his Yagers, had joined 
at Westover. Gen. Arnold had scarcely landed, and 
Col. Dundas, with the 80th regiment, was not yet 
on shore, when a patrole of the enemy fell into the 
ambuscade of the Yagers, and exchanged shot with 
them : the night was very dark. Gen. Arnold directed 
Lt. Col. Simcoe immediately to march toward's 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 169 

Bland's, with Col. Robinson's regiment and his own 
infantry ; but the cavalry did not land. The detach- 
ment had not proceeded above two miles, when Rob- 
inson's corps in front received a heavy fire. There 
was no room for disposition, for the road ran through 
a wood which was remarkably thick, at the forks of 
which, as the clearest ground, the enemy had placed 
themselves. Upon the firing, the troops were imme- 
ately ordered to charge ; they rushed forward and the 
enemy fled: near twenty of Col. Robinson's regi- 
ment were killed and wounded ; among the latter was 
Capt. Hatch who commanded the advance guard. 
Lt. Col. Simcoe seeing no probability of accomplish- 
ing the business he had been ordered upon, halted 
till Gen. Arnold's arrival, who had followed with 
the main body : the troops returned to Hood's bat- 
tery, which having totally dismantled, they carried off 
the heavy artillery and quitted it ; the next day re-em- 
barking and falling down the river. The troops land- 
ed on the 14th at Harding's ferry, and marched to 
Smithfield : the next morning Gen. Arnold sent Major 
Gordon with a detachment over the Pagan creek, and 
ordered Lt. Col. Simcoe to cross at M'Kie's mills 
with the cavalry, to co-operate with him in dispers- 
ing a body of militia, who were supposed to be as- 
sembled in that neighbourhood. Lt. Col. Simcoe 
desired Gen. Arnold to permit him to take Capt. 
Ewald with the Yagers as far as M'Kie's mills, in case 
the enemy should have seized that pass : the General 
assented ; when the party arrived there, the enemy 
were in possession of the pass ; and in some force : 



170 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

the demonstration of the cavalry and the advancing 
of the Yagers, after a few shot, obliged them to retire ; 
the bridge being taken up, prevented an immediate 
pursuit : the Yagers returned and the cavalry pro- 
ceeded to fulfill their orders ; they joined Major Gor- 
don, who had met with no enemy. Parties of militia 
being understood to be at the points on each side of 
the creek, stationed there to fire on the boats, Lt. Col. 
Simcoe proceeded with some cavalry to disperse them ; 
the advanced man, Molloy, soon perceived two senti- 
nels, when watching till their backs was turned, he 
slowly followed them, and, as they turned round, 
sprung his horse between them crying out, " lay down 
" your arms, I have you both," which they readily did ; 
proceeding to the house, the party was immediately 
surrounded and taken, it consisted of an officer and 
twelve men ; a similar party was on the other side. 
The officer who had been taken was sent over in a 
boat, to inform them that if they surrendered and 
delivered up their arms, they should have their 
paroles ; if not, they must abide by the consequen- 
ces, as a party would be sent to surround and cut 
them in pieces ; the militia immediately accepted the 
offers, the officer commanding returning with him 
who had carried the alternative ; they were very 
happy to have any reason that might be pleaded to 
their oppressors, not to be forced to take up arms. 
However, this did not answer the views of the rebel 
legislatures, and Governor Jefferson soon after pub- 
lished a proclamation, declaring the paroles of all the 
Virginia militia, in a similar predicament, null and 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 171 

void. Lt. Col. Simcoe and Major Gordon passed the 
night opposite to Smithfield, and the next day the army 
continued its march ; its rout was by Sleepy-hole ferry, 
across which the boats had arrived to cany them ; the 
Queen's Rangers proceeded to Portsmouth, Gen. Ar- 
nold being apprehensive that the enemy might burn 
the houses there ; two or three small patroles were 
taken or dispersed during the march, and Lt. Col. 
Simcoe entered the town early in the morning of the 
19th of January. A party of the enemy had just 
crossed over to Princess Ann ; the advance ship of 
the squadron came up soon after, and Gen. Arnold 
with the army arrived in the course of the day. On 
the 25th, Colonel Dundas, with a part of the 80th 
and a detachment of the Queen's Rangers, cross- 
ed Elizabeth river, and went into Princess Ann. This 
party returned at night and on its arrival at the ferry 
an account came from Gen. Arnold, that some of the 
artillery, who had been foraging on the road to the 
Great bridge, had been attacked, their waggons taken 
and the officer killed. The General ordered a de- 
tachment to be passed over from Norfolk, to endeav- 
our to retake the waggons ; the troops had just arrived 
from a fatiguing march ; the night was closing in, and 
it began to rain tremendously. Lt. Col. Simcoe fer- 
ried over, as ordered, to Herbert's point, with fourteen 
Yagers and Rangers ; they were joined by the con- 
ductor of the artillery who had escaped, and from his 
account it appeared that the officer was not dead, and 
that the enemy were but few in number. After the par- 
ty had advanced a mile, an artillery man, who had es- 



172 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

caped and lay hid in the bushes, came out, and in- 
formed him that the Lt. Rynd lay not far off. Lt. Col. 
Simcoe found him dreadfully mangled and mortally 
wounded ; he sent for an ox cart from a neighbour- 
ing farm, on which the unfortunate young gentleman 
was placed : the rain continued in a violent manner, 
which precluded all pursuit of the enemy; it now 
grew more tempestuous, and ended in a perfect hur- 
ricane, accompanied with incessant lightning. This 
small party slowly moved back toward Herbert's ferry, 
it was with difficulty that the drivers and attendants 
on the cart could find their way ; the soldiers marched 
on with their bayonets fixed, linked in ranks together, 
covering the road. The creaking of the waggon and 
the groans of the youth added to the horror of the 
night ; the road was no longer to be traced when it 
quitted the woods, and it was a great satisfaction that 
a flash of lightning, which glared among the ruins of 
Norfolk, disclosed Herbert's house. Here a boat was 
procured which conveyed the unhappy youth to the 
hospital ship, where he died the next day : Lt Col. 
Simcoe barricaded the house in which he passed the 
night. 

Gen. Arnold employed the garrison in fortifying the 
post at Portsmouth, the primary object of his expe- 
dition : the same line to -the front was occupied, 
which Gen. Leslie had begun. On the 29th Lt. Col. 
Simcoe was sent to fortify the post at Great bridge ; 
much lumber that was found there was floated down 
to Portsmouth ; and the troops, with unremitted at- 
tention, applied themselves to raise a star work, 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 173 

which commanded the bridge and the causeway ; it 
was intended to abaty the ditch, and then to fill it 
with water, which, the smaller bridges being taken up, 
would have effectually prevented a surprise. The 
rebels continually fired at night on the sentinels, and 
perfect information was gained of a party being in- 
tended for that purpose : the extent of the post pre- 
vented any ambuscade from being laid with certainty, 
and the fatigue the men underwent in the day, de- 
manded as much quiet as possible during the night. 
A figure was dressed up with a blanket coat, and 
posted in the road, by which the enemy would proba- 
bly advance, and fires resembling those of a piquet, 
were placed at the customary distance : at midnight 
the rebels arrived, and fired twenty or thirty shot at 
the effigy. As they ran across the road they expos- 
ed themselves to the shots of two sentinels, they then 
went off. The next day an officer happening to come 
in with a flag of truce, he was shown the figure and 
was made sensible of the inhumanity of firing at a 
sentinel, when nothing farther was intended : this 
ridicule probably had good effects, as during the stay 
of the Queen's Rangers at Great bridge, no sentinel 
was fired at. The works being in a state of defence, 
and capable of receiving a garrison, the Rangers were 
relieved on the 5th of February, by Major Gordon 
with a detachment. Col. Dundas arrived that day and 
marched out with the Rangers, and part of the 
80th : the cavalry soon fell in with a patrole, 
which Captain Shank pursued over Edmond's bridge, 
dispersing them and making an officer prisoner. The 
14 



174 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

Rangers returned the next day to Portsmouth, and 
were constantly employed on the works till the 10th, 
when Gen. Arnold thought proper to detach them to 
Kemp's landing. The disaffected inhabitants of Prin- 
cess Ann, for the most part, had left it ; but it was 
much infested by a party under the command of a 
New Englander, of the name of Weeks. To drive 
him from the county was the object of Lt. Col. Sim- 
coe's march, and for this purpose, he detached Capt. 
Ewald with the Yagers, and a party of the Queen's 
Rangers to the Great bridge, and with the remainder 
of the corps marched to Kemp's : he advanced on the 
16th up the country, by the main road towards the 
north-west landing, while Capt. Ewald, by almost im- 
passable ways and bye paths proceeded to the same 
point : he fortunately surprised and totally dispersed 
Weeks's party. The next day, Lt. Col. Simcoe pro- 
ceeded with a detachment of cavalry to the north- 
west landing : Weeks was again fallen in with, and 
with great difficulty escaped from the pursuit of the 
huzzars into a swamp. The whole corps returned 
the next day to Kemp's ; and from thence, on the 
18th, to Portsmouth. The north-west landing was 
the only passage from North Carolina, excepting the 
Great bridge, and this excursion was luckily timed. 
Gen. Arnold, on the 13th of February, receiving in- 
formation of the arrival of three French ships of the 
line, had sent Lt. Col. Simcoe orders to march from 
Kemp's, where he then was, to the Great bridge, in- 
timating that he should send up boats to bring off the 
cannon, and that the post should be withdrawn if 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 175 

necessary. Lt. Col. Simcoe wrote to Gen. Arnold, 
informing him, that he certainly should march at the 
time prescribed by his orders, if not countermanded, 
giving at the same time such reasons as to him ap- 
peared most forcible, why the Great bridge should 
not be hastily abandoned, but that rather Weeks and 
his party should be driven from the county into North 
Carolina ; the General was pleased to approve of his 
reasons, and on the 16th he marched against Weeks 
as has been related. Gen. Arnold, in case Capt. Sy- 
monds thought it expedient, offered the army to assist 
in any attacks on the French fleet ; Captain Alber- 
son, the gallant master of the Empress of Russia, 
Lt. Col. Simcoe's transport, was anxious, and offered 
his services, to lay him and the Queen's Rangers on 
board any of the French ships. The army was em- 
ployed in strengthening their works: on the 19th the 
French ships left the bay. Gen. Arnold had issued a 
proclamation, for the inhabitants of Princess Ann to 
assemble at Kemp's on the 21st: on that day the 
Queen's Rangers escorted him thither ; and Captain 
M'Kay, of that corps, was left at this post. He for- 
tified and barricaded his quarters in the best manner 
possible, and having some dragoons with him kept 
the country clear of small parties. 

It being reported that Lord Cornwallis was near 
Petersburg, Lieut. Col. Dundas embarked with five 
hundred men, on the 23d, and such provisions as were 
thought necessary, to make a diversion in his Lord- 
ship's favour ; but more certain advices of his opera- 
tions being received, he returned. 



176 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

Gen. Arnold ordered Lt. Col. Dundas to march at 
night with the 80th regiment and the cavalry, to en- 
deavour to surprise a body of the enemy, within eight 
or nine miles of Portsmouth, upon the Suffolk road, 
while Lt. Col. Simcoe, with the infantry of the Rang- 
ers, embarked in boats and proceeded by water to 
gain their rear undiscovered. The plan was well laid, 
nor did it fail through any fault in the execution : 
when Lieut. Col. Simcoe landed and marched on, he 
found a party sent by Lt. Col. Dundas to meet him : 
the enemy had flown. Since the war it has appeared, 
that a woman, probably a double spy, left Portsmouth 
half an hour before Colonel Dundas marched, and 
gave the enemy information. 

The militia assembling at Hampton, Lt. Col. Dun- 
das passed over from Portsmouth to dislodge them. 
What part the Rangers bore in this expedition, can- 
not be better detailed than in the modest recital of 
Quarter-master M'Gill, who went with Lt. Col. Dun- 
das, and whose bravery and conduct were honoured 
with the highest commendations, by that most re- 
spectable officer : " Col. Dundas with part of his 
" regiment, a few Yagers, Lt. Holland, myself, and 
" twelve huzzars, of the Queen's Rangers, went on an 
"expedition towards Hampton. We embarked on 
" the night of the 6th of March, and landed early 
" next morning at Newport-news, from thence march- 
" ed to a village about three miles from Hampton, 
" where we destroyed some stores, and burned four 
" large canoes without opposition ; but on our return 
" to the boats, we saw about two hundred militia 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 177 

" drawn up on a plain, and a wet ditch in front. As 
" I was advanced with the huzzars, and first saw them, 
" I informed the Colonel, and at the same time asked 
"his permission to advance against them, without 
" thinking of Lt. Holland, whom in truth I did not see 
" at the time. He granted my request, and ordered 
" the mounted men of the 80th to join me, who had, 
" as well as the Rangers, been mounted in the morn- 
" ing upon the march : with these, and some officers 
" of the 80th, who had also got horses, we made up 
" twenty-six horsemen. The rebels were about three 
" hundred yards from the road ; and I had to wheel 
" to the left, full in their view, which discovered our 
" numbers, and, I believe, encouraged them a good 
" deal, as they did not fire until we were within thirty 
" yards of them : this checked us, and gave them time 
" to give us a second salute, but not with the same 
" effect ; for, with the first, they killed Capt. Stewart, 
" of the 80th, wounded Lieut. Salisbury, of the navy, 
" who commanded the boats, and came for pleasure. 
" Col. Dundas, myself, and Serjeant Galloway, were 
" unhorsed, and some of the infantry, who were an 
" hundred yards in our rear, were wounded. Poor 
" Galloway lamented the loss of the heel of his boot, 
" which was shot away, more than the wound he re- 
" ceived. My horse had three balls through him, and 
" he received a fourth before all was over. It was 
" much against us, that we were obliged to advance 
" on the centre of the rebels, a thick wood bounding 
" both their flanks, otherwise I thought to have made 
w them give an oblique fire as the least destructive $ 
14* 



178 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

" however, we happily broke them before they could 
" attempt a third fire, and the infantry coming among 
" them did good service. The rebels had sixty killed, 
" wounded, and taken : among the latter was their 
" commander, Col. Curl, and a few of their officers. 
" I cannot ascertain our loss more than I have men- 
" tioned ; they let us embark quietly, and we landed 
" at Portsmouth the same evening." 

General Arnold having information that some of 
the enemy's Continental forces were at Williamsburg, 
sent Lt. Allen, of the Queen's Rangers, in a boat to 
land at night, and gain information. This intelligent 
officer executed his commission much to the General's 
satisfaction; and Lt. Col. Dundas embarked with part 
of the 80th regiment and the Queen's Rangers, to 
endeavour to surprise them : he fell down the Eliza- 
beth river in the evening ; but at its mouth, the night 
became so very dark and tempestuous, as to render 
the attempt totally impracticable. It was with diffi- 
culty that the troops reached Newport-news, a point 
on the enemy's shore, where they landed and passed 
the night unmolested ; and the next day returned to 
Portsmouth : fortunately, by the skill of the naval 
conductor, and Lt. Col. Dundas's indefatigable atten- 
tion, not a single boat foundered. 

There being indications that a serious attack upon 
Portsmouth was in agitation, Gen. Arnold was very 
active in putting it into a respectable state of defence. 
Lt. Col. Simcoe had given his opinion, by letter to 
the Commander in Chief, " that Portsmouth, con- 
" sidered as a post was very weak ; from its extent, 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 179 

" and from its left being so entirely flanked, that its 
" whole front was taken in reverse ; I conceive it to 
" be tenable against any force in this country :" it did 
not appear to be a proper situation for a small garri- 
son; but looked upon as an entrenched camp, it 
might be made a respectable one ; nor was it, and its 
dependencies, ill suited for combined defence, and the 
preserving a small naval and military force from the 
operations of a superior armament. To explain this 
opinion, it is necessary to observe, that directly op- 
posite to Portsmouth a branch of the Elizabeth river, 
which it stands upon, ran eastward, dividing Her- 
bert's point from Norfolk : this eastern branch was 
not to be forded within eight miles. The occupying 
a good redoubt at Norfolk, another at Herbert's point, 
and re-establishing an old work at Mill point below 
Portsmouth, would reduce any force which, in the 
present appearance of affairs, was likely to be brought 
against Gen. Arnold's army, to a direct assault on 
some part, as it was evident, the regular siege of the 
whole, or any single work, would take up more time 
than any French squadron could venture to employ 
before it. Gen. Arnold had constructed a great many 
boats, excellently adapted for the transportation of 
soldiers, and capable of carrying eighty men besides 
the rowers ; by these means, he had it in his power 
to reinforce any of the points within ten minutes. Lt. 
Col. Simcoe had previously sounded all the creeks, at 
low water, with Capt. Richard Graves, of the royal 
navy ; and that officer, upon leaving Portsmouth to 
go to Hampton road, sent him on the 14th of March 



180 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

his opinion on the subject of forming a regular sys- 
tem of defence, applicable to the stationing of the 
ships under Captain Symonds, (the largest of which 
was the Charon of 44 guns,) from Mill point to the 
brewery, at Norfolk. " Three ships he observed can 
" be placed in an oblique line, mooring across the 
" channel one third of a cable each way, besides two 
"ships lying in the intervals at the same distance, 
" either in front or rear, which, in my opinion, with 
" vessels sunk and proper dispositions made of fire 
" vessels, may effectually stop the passage." Lt. Col. 
Simcoe had converted the bodies of his waggons into 
small pontoons, capable of holding six men, as boats, 
and well adapted to form bridges over the small creeks 
in the country, through which, if it had become ne- 
cessary to quit Portsmouth, the retreat might have 
been made, by the north-west landing to North Caro- 
lina. These were the opinions which he had always 
held when any conversation took place upon the sub- 
ject ; and the system of defence is the same which 
appears on his arrival, to have been thought of by 
Gen. Phillips. Much would have depended on the 
science of the enemy's General. The ground of 
Portsmouth was not only enfiladed on the left flank, 
but the enemy had on the right, favourable positions 
to place their batteries wherever they advanced to the 
assault ; and, if the points on the river could not be 
secured, the fleet must inevitably fall into their hands, 
without contributing to the defence of the place. The 
garrison was in great spirits, full of confidence in the 
daring courage of Gen. Arnold ; and the enemy had 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 181 

every thing to fear from a sally. About this time a 
singular event took place : the passage from the Great 
bridge upon Elizabeth river had hitherto been secure ; 
but a party of the enemy from its banks fired upon a 
gun-boat, that was returning with the baggage of the 
detachment which had been relieved; and having 
wounded some of the people in it, took the boat. 
Capt. Stevenson, who had commanded at the Great 
bridge, lost his baggage ; and among his papers was 
found a fictitious letter, which he had written by way 
of amusement, and of passing his time, to Gen. Gre- 
gory, who commanded the North Carolina militia at 
the West landing, detailing a plan which that officer 
was to follow to surrender his troops to Lt. Col. Sim- 
coe : the whole plausibly written and bearing with it 
every appearance of being concerted. The manner 
of its falling into the enemy's hands strengthened 
these appearances; at. first it served for laughter to 
the officers of the Rangers ; but when it was under- 
stood that Gen. Gregory was put in arrest, Capt. Ste- 
venson's humanity was alarmed, and the letters, which 
are in the appendix, passed between Lt. Col. Simcoe 
and Col. Parker, who had taken the boat : they pre- 
vented all further bad consequences. The 6th of 
March, Gen. Arnold ordered Lt. Col. Simcoe to send 
two or three small parties every night, from the piquet, 
as far, or a little beyond the cross roads, four miles in 
front of Portsmouth : they were to consist of four or 
five men. The woods, to the right and left of the 
road, being intersected with paths on which the ene- 
my generally patrolled, rendered their destruction 



182 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

almost inevitable ; two of them, one of the Yagers 
and another of the Rangers, being taken, they were 
discontinued. The enemy assembling in force, the 
troops were constantly under arms at four o'clock in 
the morning, at their alarm post, if the weather was 
favourable ; if otherwise, at their respective barracks. 
There being various reports of the enemy making 
a road through the dismal swamp to the left of Great 
bridge, and small parties infesting the country, Lieut. 
Col. Simcoe marched the 10th of March to the Great 
bridge. Capt. M'Kay, who commanded at Kemp's, 
had received information, that Weeks was to pass 
over on the night of the 11th, and that he would be 
at a house between the Great bridge and Kemp's : he 
proposed to Lieut. Col. Simcoe to surprise him, and 
Gen. Arnold approved of it ; as it was necessary to 
check every inroad into Princess Ann. Capt. M'Kay 
marched at a concerted hour from Kemp's, and Lieut. 
Col. Simcoe from the Great bridge, in order to sup- 
port him. The former met the enemy before he ar- 
rived at the place where he expected to find them ; 
and he instantly detached Lt. Dunlop to their rear, 
who attacked, and effectually surprised them : eight 
or ten were killed or taken. In the pocket of the 
Lieutenant, who was killed, was found a letter saying, 
to his Captain, " that with four or five men, he could 
" every night seize one or two of the refractory men 
" belonging to his company." These violences were 
necessary to force the militia, of the lower counties 
of Virginia, to arms. The Queen's Rangers returned 
the next day to Portsmouth, as did Capt. M'Kay to 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 183 

Kemp's ; which post, he maintained with singular 
vigilance and propriety. Lt. Col. Simcoe thought it 
proper, in public orders, to desire, " That his best 
" thanks might be accepted by Lt. St. John Dunlop, 
" and the party under his command, for their obedi- 
" ence to their orders, and gallantry in the surprise of 
" a rebel party, the night of the 11th instant. The 
" Lt. Colonel is satisfied, that if the information Capt. 
" M'Kay received had been true, the rebel banditti he 
" marched against would have been annihilated in 
" consequence of his proper disposition, and the 
" steadiness of the officers and soldiers under his 
" command. It is with great pleasure the Lieutenant- 
" Colonel hears of the orderly and soldier-like be- 
" haviour of the whole party stationed at Kemp's : he 
" hopes the regiment will equally pride themselves in 
" protecting, as in the present case, the unarmed in- 
" habitants of the country, as in scourging the armed 
" banditti who oppress it." The Great bridge was 
situated at the head of Elizabeth river, close to the 
great dismal swamp, from whence it rises. It was 
the great road, while Norfolk was in affluence, be- 
tween that town and North Carolina: small parties 
only could pass through the swamps, the season be- 
ing uncommonly dry ; but the surprisal of that which 
had attempted it, rendered it not very advisable. The 
post was easily to be maintained until such time as 
an enemy should venture to throw bridges over the 
Elizabeth river, between the Great bridge and Ports- 
mouth ; and then, it was to be weighed whether a 
hundred men, the usual garrison of the Great bridge 



184 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

would not find more employment for an enemy, and 
be more than adequate to any services the same num- 
ber could be of, in Portsmouth. Like other field 
works it could not hold out a moment against mor- 
tars : it was calcujated to keep the Carolina militia 
out of Princess Ann, and every hour that this could 
be done was of great importance : the hopes of plun- 
der and the certainty of their escaping, would have 
deluged the country with this banditti. About this 
time, Capt. M'Crea, of the Queen's Rangers, having 
the command of this post, with that gallantry which 
had so eminently distinguished him at Kingsbridge, 
on the first formation of the Rangers, sallied upon a 
party of the enemy, who had frequently fired upon 
his sentinels, surprised them, put them to the rout 
and pinned a label upon one of the men who had been 
killed, threatening to lay in ashes any house, near his 
front, that they should harbour in. This vigorous 
sally had its use : the enemy, as their custom was 
when they were corrected, complained of cruelty, 
and Gen. Muhlenberg wrote to Gen. Arnold on that 
subject. Lt. Col. Simcoe had also some correspond- 
ence, on this subject, with Col. Parker, a gentleman 
of more liberality than was commonly found in those 
who commanded parties of the militia. Capt. M'Crea 
had taken two prisoners, they were offered to be ex- 
changed for Ellison, the gallant huzzar who had sig- 
nalised himself at the battle of Monmouth, and ano- 
ther soldier, who, their horses being killed, had been 
taken in a skirmish, a few days before, towards the 
north-west landing ; but so little did the enemy value 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 185 

their militia, that it was refused on the ungenerous 
plea of their having been wounded. It is not impro- 
bable but the unfortunate men might have been loy- 
alists, averse from the service of the rebels and forced 
into it: Ellison was soon after exchanged: he had 
been ill-treated while prisoner; but nothing hurt him 
equally with the being robbed of the silver half moon 
which he wore on his huzzar cap, with the word 
" Monmouth" engraven on it, as a mark of his bravery 
in that action. 

On the 18th of March, Gen. Arnold gave orders 
for every person to work on the lines, and the town 
people, who should refuse, to quit it. M. de La Fay- 
ette appeared in the front of the works, and the 
Yager piquet, posted near the head of Scott's creek, 
was attacked in force : a deep ravine passable at this 
post, and above it, separated them from the enemy. 
Capt. Ewald was with his piquet, and by demonstra- 
tions and the countenance of his people, more than 
once checked the enemy, who showed every inclina- 
tion to pass over the gully, and totally prevented 
them from reconnoitering the right of Portsmouth : 
Capt. Ewald was wounded. Gen. Arnold in his letter 
to Sir Henry Clinton says, " That he did not think it 
" prudent to leave his works and sally, as Lieut. Col. 
" Simcoe was in Princess Ann with near four hundred 
" men." It is not improbable that the enemy had in- 
telligence of the Queen's Rangers being detached to 
secure forage, &c, as on Lieut. Col. Simcoe's return, 
the small bridges were destroyed between Kemp's and 
Portsmouth ; which, though they were but trifling 
15 



186 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

impediments, must have been done by a lurking par- 
ty, or the disaffected of the country, in consequence 
of some concerted order. Lt. Col. Simcoe, to whom 
the Yagers had been attached, felt this a proper op- 
portunity to represent Captain Ewald's conduct and 
gallantry to Gen. Kniphausen. 

On information of a squadron with French colours 
being at anchor, on the 19th, in Lynnhaven bay, Lt. 
Col. Simcoe was sent there with a patrole, to observe 
them : he had the pleasure to find that it was Admi- 
ral Arbuthnot's fleet, and to see a rebel cruiser, de- 
ceived by their colours, taken by them. The action 
which the Admiral had with the French fleet, saved 
the armament in Virginia from a serious attack. Gen. 
Arnold had received information, from the officer at 
the Great bridge, that General Gregory, on the 18th, 
had approached within two miles of him, with six 
pieces of cannon and twelve hundred men : General 
Arnold sent him orders, " To defend it to the last 
u extremity ;" and then directed Lt. Col. Simcoe, after 
he had informed himself what fleet was below, to take 
such measures as he thought necessary respecting the 
Great bridge ; the situation of which has been here- 
tofore stated. 

Gen. Phillips arrived on the 27th of March, and 
was soon followed by the forces under his command. 
The light infantry went into cantonments at Kemp's, 
and the Queen's Rangers at New Town, under in- 
structions to hold themselves liable to move on the 
shortest notice, and in case of Lieut. Col. Abercrom- 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 187 

foie's requisition, Lt. Col. Simcoe was to place him- 
self under his orders. 

There being every appearance of the army taking 
the field, Lt. Col. Simcoe made application to Gen. 
Phillips, for the same number of artillerymen to his 
cannon as had been attached to them on similar oc- 
casions. The General chose only to allow him some 
men for a short time, to instruct soldiers of the Queen's 
Rangers : this Lt. Col. Simcoe declined. His corps 
was weak in numbers, and he considered the number 
of men, who must have attended his guns, more use- 
ful with their muskets : while the corps acted sepa- 
rately, cannon always furnished a reason for an ene- 
my to avoid action. In some situations, even such 
contemptible guns as three-pounders might be of great 
use, in particular, in defence of a house or any posi- 
tion which might enable a corps, in case of necessity, 
to rally ; but the Queen's Rangers were now not like- 
ly to be detached, and if they were and it became 
necessary, the Commander of the army would send 
them cannon. The three-pounder and amuzette were 
therefore sent to the artillery park on the 20th of 
April ; the Commander in Chief was pleased to add 
Capt. Diemar's troop of huzzars, then at New- York, 
to the Queen's Rangers, and they were placed under 
the command of Capt. Cooke. 

Gen. Phillips gave out the following orders for ex- 
ercising the troops, preparatory to their taking the 
field : " It is the Major General's wish, that the troops 
¥. under his command may practice forming from two 
"to three and to four deep ; and that they should be 



188 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

" accustomed to charge in all those orders. In the 
" latter orders, of the three and four deep, the files 
" will, in course, be closer, so as to render a charge 
" of the greatest force. The Major General also re- 
" commends to regiments the practice of dividing the 
" battalions, by wings or otherwise, so that one line 
" may support the other when an attack is supposed ; 
" and, when a retreat is supposed, that the first line 
"may retreat through the intervals of the second, the 
" second doubling up its divisions for that purpose, and 
" forming up again in order to check the enemy who 
" may be supposed to have pressed the first line. The 
" Major General would approve also of one division 
" of a battalion attacking in the common open order 
" of two deep, to be supported by the other compact di- 
" vision as a second line, in a charging order of three 
" or four deep. The gaining the flanks also of a sup- 
" posed enemy, by the quick movements of a division 
" in common open order, while the compact division 
" advances to a charge ; and such other evolutions, 
" as may lead the regiments to a custom of depend- 
" ing on and mutually supporting each other ; so that 
" should one part be pressed or broken, it may be ac- 
" customed to form again without confusion, under 
" the protection of a second line, or any regular 
" formed division." These orders, so proper in them- 
selves, and now peculiarly useful, as no Hessian troops, 
who usually formed the firm and solid second line to 
the British, were to embark on the expedition, were 
not meant to affect the general manoeuvres of the light 
troops : Lt. Col. Simcoe was permitted to adopt such 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 189 

only as he thought applicable to that service. The 
works at Portsmouth being completed, the troops em- 
barked on the 18th of April, and fell down to Hampton 
road. Gen. Phillips informed the officers commanding 
corps, in writing, that the first object of the expedi- 
tion was to surprise, if possible, a body of the enemy 
stationed at Williamsburgh, at any rate to attack 
them : at the same time he detailed the plan of ope- 
rations. The Rangers were of Gen. Arnold's division, 
which was destined to land below Williamsburg, and 
to co-operate with that under Lt. Colonel Abercrom- 
bie, which was to land above it. The following orders 
were more peculiar to the Queen's Rangers : " a de- 
tachment of Hessian Yagers will be attached to the light 
infantry and Queen's Rangers, with which corps they 
have so often acted, that it is unnecessary to give any 
directions concerning them ; and they will, in course, 
be always protected by bayonets, both as sentinels 
and patroles. Should the enemy retreat, upon intelli^ 
gence of the enterprise against them, or be forced by 
an attack to retire, Lt. Col. Simcoe will proceed with 
the utmost diligence to York Town, and there, under 
every description of caution, endeavour to gain the 
rear of the enemy's batteries, and of the post ; but 
should he, by certain intelligence and observations, be 
convinced of there being closed works with troops in 
them, he is to make an immediate report of it, and 
not to attack such works without further orders. It 
is not the intention to risk the loss of men upon any 
attack at York Town, nor delay by any attack there 
the progress of the intended expedition, Should, 
15* 



190 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

however, Lt. Col. Simcoe gain possession of York 
Town, he will hoist a red flag, and fire, if possible, sig- 
nal guns, and at night light two or three fires at dif- 
ferent places upon the shore : these are intended to 
give the Bonetta sloop of war notice of York Town 
being possessed by the King's troops, on which that 
vessel will move up the river ; and Lt. Col. Simcoe 
will, in that case, consult with Capt. Dundass, the 
commander of the Bonetta, how it may be best to act 
for destroying the armed and other vessels in that 
river, and also take every means for putting the en- 
emy's cannon at York Town into that armed vessel. 
It is to be wished that this detailed operation may not 
take up more than forty eight hours." The troops 
arrived off Burrell's ferry on the 19th ; Lt. Col. Sim- 
coe was directed to land in such manner as he thought 
proper. The enemy had thrown up entrenchments to 
secure the landing, and these appeared to be fully man- 
ned. The boats were assembled at the small ves- 
sel on board which Lt. Col. Simcoe was, which was 
anchored about two miles from the shore. Near a 
mile below the ferry was a small creek which ran a 
little way into the land, from James river ; and at the 
point formed by this separation, it was determined to 
land. Capt. Ewald being disabled by his wound from 
accompanying the expedition, the Yagers were divided 
between the Queen's Rangers and light infantry; 
Capt. Althause's company of riflemen was also un- 
der the command of Lt. Col. Simcoe. The boats, 
preceded by the gun-boat, moved directly towards 
Burrell's ferry : on a signal given, they all, except the 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 191 

gun-boat, turned and rowed rapidly towards the point, 
where the landing was to take place, assisted by the 
wind and tide ; Major Armstrong, who commanded 
it, was desired to keep out of the reach of musket 
shot, and to fire his six pounder at the entrenchments, 
and particularly to scour a gully on the left, which the 
enemy must pass if they meant any opposition. The 
troops disembarked as intended ; Capt. M'Kay with a 
detachment of the Queen's Rangers and Yagers, land- 
ing below the inlet, to beat up any party who might 
be in ambuscade there, and to give greater security to 
the right flank in case the enemy should attack the 
corps. Lieut. Col. Simcoe met no opposition in his 
march to Burrell's ferry, from whence the enemy fled 
with precipitation, and where Gen. Phillips with the 
army immediately landed. Fifty-six horses of the 
Queen's Rangers had been embarked, those of offi- 
cers included : the dismounted men brought with 
them their saddles and accoutrements. Gen. Phillips 
ordered Lt. Col. Simcoe to proceed to York Town, 
where, it was understood, that there were only the 
artillerymen, who superintended the battery, and a 
few militia. He marched accordingly with forty 
cavalry, accompanied by Major Darner, who acted as 
Adjutant General to Gen. Phillips : the infantry of 
the Queen's Rangers proceeded with the army to 
"Williamsburg. The night was uncommonly dark and 
tempestuous, and Lt. Col. Simcoe found himself un- 
der the necessity of halting at a farm-house, during 
its continuance : in the morning he gallopped into the 
town, surprised and secured a few of the artillery- 



192 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

■ 

men, the others made off in a boat. He directed the 
guns of the batteries, already loaded, to be fired, as 
a signal to the Bonetta sloop, which sailed up and 
anchored off the town ; and he burnt a range of the 
rebel barracks. Upon the hearing of cannon at Wil- 
liamsburg, the party returned thither; askiit appear- 
ed, that there had only been a skirmish at the out- 
post of that place, where the troops had arrived the 
preceding evening without molestation: Quarter- 
Master M'Gill, with some of the huzzars of the 
Queen's Rangers, having charged and dispersed the 
only patrole of the enemy who had appeared in the 
front. General Phillips asked Lt. Col. Simcoe, when 
he waited upon him to make his report, how many 
men would it require to defend York Town ? and on 
his hesitating, with great quickness, said "Four 
" hundred, five hundred, a thousand," and seemed 
greatly surprised when he replied two thousand : this 
was the only conversation that passed between them 
on the subject. Lt. Col. Simcoe had no order to re- 
connoitre the ground, and what he did observe was 
merely for his own information; and the number of 
troops necessary for its defence against the American 
forces, he guessed at, on the supposition of its being 
properly fortified, and above all made bomb proof, 
without which he knew all fortifications to be useless, 
and which he had stated, at a period in which there 
was not a bomb proof in any of the British fortifica- 
tions, as absolutely necessary in his plan for the oc- 
cupation of Billingsport. The army marched to 
Barret's ferry, near the Chickahominy, and embarked 




rapid. 



THE 

LANDIXU 

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April-H?1781. 
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ITH OF EMDICOTT NEW YORK 



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OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 193 

immediately, the Queen's Rangers excepted, who 
formed the rear guard and lay on shore the whole 
night, in a position which a little labour rendered un- 
assailable. Gen. Phillips here gave out the strictest 
orders to prevent privateers, the bane and disgrace of 
the country which employs them, from preceding the 
fleet, and being found upon any of the rivers maraud- 
ing or plundering : he also explained the second ob- 
ject of the expedition, which was to obtain posses- 
sion of Hood's battery, now reported to be closed, 
without unnecessary risk ; to open all obstructions on 
the James river, and to seize the arms said to be at 
Prince George Court house. The Major General is- 
sued the following excellent order : " Commanding 
" officers of corps, and those detached are to keep 
" regular journals during their absence, which, upon 
" their return, they will give in, with their reports, 
" when called upon." There never was a regulation 
better calculated to do justice to the active and de- 
serving officer, in every rank and station : it at once 
established a method, by which it became the duty of 
officers to detail their own professional skill, and that 
of those subordinate to them, with the result of it to 
the Commander in Chief, without wounding modest 
merit with the necessity of self commendation. At 
the same time, should any man be so base as to arro- 
gate to himself services which he had never perform- 
ed, and which sooner or later cannot fail of being 
divulged, this order would subject the offender to the 
penalty as well as the disgrace of making a false re- 
port. The troops finding no opposition at Hood's, 



194 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

or on the James river, proceeded without delay up 
the river: off Westover Major Gen. Phillips issued 
the following orders : " A third object of the present 
" expedition is to gain Petersburg for the purpose of 
" destroying the enemy's stores at that place, and it 
" is public stores alone that are intended to be seized ; 
" for private property and the persons of individuals, 
" not taken in arms, are to be under the protection of 
" the troops ; and Major Gen. Phillips depends on 
" the activity and zeal of the troops on this occasion. 
"The movement from City point to Petersburg, will 
" be made by land ; and it is apprehended, the boats 
" will not be able to follow till the shores are cleared 
" of the enemy. The march will be conducted with 
" the greatest caution, and the soldiers will pay the 
" strictest obedience to orders : the conduct of the 
" officers is not to be doubted. When the troops 
" form it is to be done in the following manner : The 
" infantry and huzzars of the Queen's Rangers, with 
" a detachment of Yagers and Althause's rifle com- 
" pany, form the advanced guard, under Lt. Col. Sim- 
" coe. The first line to be composed of the light in- 
" fantry ; the second to be composed of the 80th and 
" 76th regiments, who will form three deep, and in 
" compact order. The grenadiers and light infantry 
" of the 80th, with the American legion, to form the 
" reserve under Major Gordon. The cavalry of the 
" Queen's Rangers, to form with the reserve, till such 
" time as they may be called upon the wing, of the 
" first or second line. As the present movements will 
" be made in a difficult country, it becomes necessa- 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 195 

" ry that officers leading columns and commanding 
" corps, should use and exert the intelligence of their 
" own minds, joined to the knowledge of the service, 
" in times of an attack, when they cannot immediate- 
" ly receive the orders of the Brigadier General, or 
" Major General. Should the particular difficulty of 
" the country, occasion the first line to take up new 
" ground toward the rear, it may not be improper, 
" perhaps, to do so by becoming a second line in the 
" rear of the 76th and 80th, who will form openings, 
" if necessary, for the purpose. It is to be observed, 
" that the reserve is to be the point of assembly, for 
" the troops upon any difficult occasion. The im- 
" pression made upon an attack, by the advanced 
" corps and light infantry, will be supported in firm 
" order by the second line ; and the cavalry will 
" watch the moment for charging a broken enemy. 
" The artillery attached to the several corps, will be 
" under the command of Capt. Fage, who, with the 
" participation of the commanding officers, or those 
" bearing the orders of the General Officers, will ex- 
" ert their utmost endeavours to co-operate with the 
" rest of the troops." On the 24th the troops landed, 
and passed the night at City point, and on the 25th 
marched towards Petersburg. The report of the 
forces collected at that place varied ; but it was ap- 
parent, that they rather distrusted their own strength, 
or were miserably commanded, as no shadow of op- 
position was made at some passes which were very 
difficult, and which would have delayed or embar- 
rassed the army. Within two miles of Petersburg, 



196 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

the wood ending in a plain, the army halted until the 
troops in the rear had closed to the front : the enemy 
appeared at a distance, and the troops advanced. At 
a gully in front some firing took place from a party 
of the enemy, which was posted on the opposite 
bank ; they killed a Yager and fled. A Serjeant, who 
had been detached with a party of Yagers to the 
right, by means of an orchard, got upon the enemy's 
left flank undiscovered, and fired with great effect 
upon them as they retreated. The ground was di- 
vided by small inclosures, with houses on each side 
of the road, which, through a narrow pass in front, 
led to Petersburg ; on the right of it were small emi- 
nences, terminating at the Appamatox river, and on 
the left, hilly ground covered with wood, at the foot 
of which was an old mill stream. The troops halted, 
and Lt. Col. Simcoe accompanied Gen. Phillips to 
the right, where, at the distance of a quarter of a 
mile, he could see the enemy drawn up : Gen. Phil- 
lips soon selected a spot to which he ordered the ar- 
tillery to be brought, and it arrived undiscovered ; he 
then directed it to fire, and ordered Lieut. Col. Aber- 
crombie to march towards the enemy in front, Lieut. 
Col. Simcoe with the Rangers to pass through the 
wood to the left to turn the enemy's right flank, and 
Capt. Boyd with the second battalion of light infant- 
ry to support him, as the rest of the troops did Lieut. 
Col. Abercrombie. Lt. Col. Simcoe, on emerging 
from the wood, found a high woody ridge, immedi- 
ately on his left : he desired Capt. Boyd would attend 
to it, who sent flanking parties thither. Lieut. Col. 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 197 

Abercrombie pushing forward his battalion, the ene- 
my's first line quitted their station in confusion; but 
it appeared to Lieut. Col. Simcoe, that they had a 
second line posted, probably to secure the retreat of 
the first, and that this party, who seemed totally oc- 
cupied with what was doing in the front, had no out 
flankers, but that those of the first line had fallen 
back upon the main body. His aim was to get as 
much upon their flank as possible, attack them, and 
pass the bridge over the Appamatox with them : on 
the opposite side of this bridge, upon the heights, 
were troops and cannon, but the banks were so steep 
that their fire could do but little injury to an active 
assailant. The enemy, still pressed in front by Lieut. 
Col. Abercrombie, fled so rapidly that the Queen's 
Rangers had no opportunity of closing with them, 
though, from their dress, they had marched a consid- 
erable way unnoticed. The enemy's cannon began 
to fire grape at the light infantry, who had reached 
the town of Blandford, and destroyed the bridge. Lt. 
Col. Simcoe thought it advisable to try whether there 
was not a ford, as was rumoured, at Bannister's mills, 
for the attempt at least would make the enemy draw 
off their cannon. A party of horsemen appeared 
upon the heights near Bannister's house : they gal- 
lopped off on the approach of the troops, and proved 
to have been people of the country, who came as 
spectators of the encounter. The enemy now fired 
round shot, but ineffectually, at the Queen's Rangers : 
a party at the same time marched, on the opposite 
side of the river, towards the mills, but it was soon 
16 



198 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

called off, and the whole of the enemy's corps, sup- 
posed to be commanded by Baron Steuben, marched 
off The disposition of the enemy was not such as 
marked any ability in those who made it : by their 
cannon being placed on the opposite side of the Ap- 
pamatox, it was evident," that the corps which was 
stationed at the extremity of Blandford, was merely 
intended to fire and to retreat ; but their very posi- 
tion counteracted their design, as the deep defile 
would of itself enforce caution in those who were to 
pass it ; the previous skirmish had prevented their 
making use of an ambuscade, and their right being 
open, exposed them to what they narrowly escaped, 
the being cut off from the bridge. The plan of the 
ground, which Lt. Spencer took upon the spot, will 
show, to the military observer, many positions which 
might have been taken by the enemy to better effect : 
they were said to have lost near an hundred men kill- 
ed and wounded, while that of the British was only 
one man killed, and ten wounded of the light infantry. 
The bridge being easily repaired, Lt. Col. Aber- 
crombie with the light infantry and Queen's Rangers, 
passed over the next day and occupied the heights. 
The army proceeded towards Osborne's on the 27th, 
early in the morning : the bridge at Randal's mills 
had been taken up, but was presently relaid. Gen. 
Phillips, with one division of the army, went to Ches- 
terfield Court-house, while the 80th and 76th regi- 
ments, with the Queen's Rangers, under Gen. Arnold, 
marched to Osborne's, where a number of the ene- 
my's shipping was stationed. Care had been taken 









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+. Queens Rangers. 
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OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 199 

that no information of the approach of the troops 
could reach them ; and there was no doubt but that 
the fire of the cannon would have given the first no- 
tice of the arrival of the army. In this situation Gen. 
Arnold sent a flag of truce to the enemy, offering half 
the contents of their cargoes in case they did not de- 
stroy any part ; the enemy answered, " That they 
" were determined and ready to defend their ships, 
" and would sink in them rather than surrender." The 
troops inarched on : Gen. Arnold stationed Lt. Rogers 
with two three pounders near the stern of a large 
ship, which had springs upon her cable. With diffi- 
culty she brought her broadside to bear, and returned 
a smart fire, when Capt. Fage, with two six pounders, 
opened from an unexpected quarter, with great effect. 
Lt. Col. Simcoe placed the Queen's Rangers out of 
the line of fire, and directed Lt. Spencer, who had 
been sent to reconnoitre the left, to conduct some 
Yagers by a route partly covered by ditches, within 
thirty yards of her stern. Luckily she had loaded 
her guns only with round shot, expecting that the prin- 
cipal attack would have been made by water ; grape 
shot must inevitably have killed or driven the artillery 
from their guns. Gen. Arnold sent orders to Lt. Col. 
Simcoe to march the Queen's Rangers to the shore, 
and to fire musketry at the ship : he was preparing to 
execute this order, when, what he shall ever esteem a 
as a most fortunate shot, cut a spring cable and threw 
the ship round : in this situation, the crew, exposed 
to the raking of Lt. Rogers' cannon, and whoever ap- 
peared upon deck to the fire of the Yagers, and despair- 



200 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

ing of assistance from the remainder of the ill-stationed 
fleet, were frightened and took to their boat to escape : 
the Yagers beginning a severe fire on them, some jump- 
ed overboard. Lt. Spencer, with difficulty, stopped 
the firing, and parrying with the boat's crew, they sur- 
rendered, and as they were directed, rowed to the 
shore in possession of the King's troops. Lt. Fitz- 
patrick, with volunteer Armstrong, and twelve of the 
Queen's Rangers, leaped into the boat and rowed on 
board the ship : he then sent another boat on shore, 
and, with great judgment and spirit proceeded towards 
the furthermost ship in the fleet : the Highland com- 
pany embarked on board the captured frigate, and a 
scene of singular confusion ensued. The enemy had 
scuttled several of their ships, which were now sink- 
ing; others, boarded by the intrepid Lt. Fitzpatrick. 
were on fire ; and although cannon and musketry from 
the opposite shore, kept up a smart fire on him, that 
active officer rowed on. He put three men on board 
one ship, and cut her cable, and he left volunteer Arm- 
strong with three more in another, and attained him- 
self the headmost, whose guns he immediately turned 
upon the enemy. A ship, which was blown up near 
the Tempest, the State frigate, which had been the 
first taken, in its explosion, lodged some fire on her 
top gallant and fore stay-sail, which now blazed out ; 
Capt. M'Kay, with the Highlanders had cut her cable 
to avoid the danger, and she now drifted ; but the cur- 
rent running easterly, luckily drove her near the shore, 
occupied by the King's troops, and, by the exertion 
of the Highlanders, whom their many sea voyages 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 201 

had made active and experienced in such dangers, the 
flames were extinguished, and the prize effectually se- 
cured. To add to the horror, volunteer Armstrong 
finding the ship he was on board of in flames, beyond 
his power to master, had swam on shore to procure 
a boat to bring off the men he had with him ; and the 
only one in the possession of the troops, was des- 
patched for that purpose : he had just time to save 
his men, when the vessel blew up. The whole of the 
fleet, consisting of two ships of twenty guns, a brig 
of sixteen, and several other armed vessels, were ei- 
ther taken or destroyed. One twenty gun ship, a brig 
of sixteen guns, two lesser and a sloop, were brought 
down and safely moored, after a firing which lasted 
above two hours : Lt. Fitzpatrick brought off that 
which he was on board of, deliberately closing the rear. 
The troops remained in this vicinity till the 29th, 
when they proceeded towards Manchester. The 
bridge at Robert's mills, which had been destroyed, 
was repaired, and the army encamped near Cary's 
house : next morning they marched to Manchester, 
from whence they had a view of M. Fayette's army, 
encamped on the heights of Richmond : on the even- 
ing they returned to Cary's. Lt. Col. Simcoe, with 
the rear guard, had orders to destroy a large quantity 
of flour in Cary's mills ; but on his representing to 
Gen. Phillips, that this duty of fatigue could not be 
finished in the time allotted for the purpose, he was 
directed to burn them, which was accordingly done. 
This flour was destined for the Spaniards, but prob- 
ably would have been used as supplies for Fayette's 
16* 



202 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

army. The troops proceeded by Osborne's to the 
Bermuda Hundreds : a quantity of cattle was collect- 
ed for them, by a detachment of the Queen's Rangers 
the next day ; and the whole army embarked on the 
evening of the 2d of May. The captured ships were 
conveyed down the river by a detachment of the 
Queen's Rangers, and not without opposition from 
the militia, particularly against that commanded by 
Lt. Allen, which ran on shore ; but, by his exertions 
and bravery, was gotten off without material injury. 
Gen. Phillips, whilst the army lay at Gary's, had 
thrown some troops over the opposite side of James 
river. On the return from Blanford, Lt. Col. Simcoe 
took occasion to represent to him the possibility of 
the whole army crossing, and that, while the advance 
guard moved on towards Richmond and masked the 
road, the army might turn back two miles from the 
landing place, and by falling into the bye path which 
Gen. Arnold had formerly been advised to proceed 
on, might arrive on the plain ground on the heights 
of Richmond, most probably on the left flank, if not 
the rear, of Fayette, who would, as it was reasonable 
to presume, expect the British troops by the route 
which Gen. Arnold had so recently taken, and whose 
gasconading disposition and military ignorance might 
possibly tempt him to stay too long in the face of 
troops, his equals in numbers, and superior in every 
thing else that could form the value of an army. The 
troops fell down the river in prosecution of such fur- 
ther enterprises as Gen. Phillips had determined upon. 
Opposite to James Town, the sloop Lt. Col. Simcoe 






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OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 203 

was in, being one of the headmost of the fleet, ran 
aground near to a landing place. Some people on 
horseback were seen reconnoitering the fleet : the bu- 
gle horns were sounded, and a boat brought round 
the vessel towards the shore, and instructions for land- 
ing were given in a loud voice : this feint, meant 
merely for amusement, had its effect, and a messenger 
was seen to gallop off, and M. Fayette in his dis- 
patches mentions it as a seeming attempt of the en- 
emy to land. It has since appeared, that M. Fayette, 
as was predicted, followed the troops down the river, 
the constant and good policy of the enemy ; but which, 
in this case might have proved fatal to his army, had 
what at first appeared to be Gen. Phillips' design, 
been now in his power or instructions to execute ; for 
the vessel was scarcely got off, when the officer, who 
had led the fleet, returned and hailing Lt. Col. Simcoe, 
directed him to make the utmost dispatch in following 
him up the river : this was facilitated by its blowing 
a hard but fair gale. The whole fleet anchored off 
Brandon's house, on the south-side of James river ; 
and the troops immediately landed, on the 7th of May, 
the light infantry excepted, who proceeded to City 
point. Had the landing been on the opposite shore, 
and higher up, as by the fair winds might have been 
the case, the British army would have been above M. 
Fayette, and he could not have avoided action. Lt. 
Col. Simcoe was informed by Gen. Phillips, that he 
had received an order from Lord Cornwallis to meet 
him near Petersburg. To the great concern of his 
army, Gen. Phillips was taken extremely ill, and to 



204 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

accommodate him, Lt. Col. Simcoe went some miles 
off and procured a post-chaise. Early the next 
morning, the army marched to Bland's ordinary, pass- 
ing a very deep gully: here it was reported that M. 
Fayette had crossed the James river and was at Pe- 
tersburg. It would have been imprudent, had such 
been a fact, for the corps at Bland's mill to march 
thither, until it was joined by the light infantry : while 
conversation to this purpose was held by the principal 
officers, General Phillips, whose indisposition rapidly 
increased, awakening from his sleep, was made 
acquainted with the report; and the last material 
order he gave was that, which decided the troops to 
proceed as quick as posible towards Petersburg, and 
to order Lt. Col. Simcoe to cross the country, with 
a party of cavalry to City point, with instructions 
for Lieutenant Colonel Abercrombie, to march 
early the next morning to that place, which accor- 
dingly was executed, and the whole army united 
at Petersburg. Gen. Phillips' army made prisoners 
some of M. Fayette's suite, who had arrived there to 
prepare quarters for his army : this was a very for- 
tunate prevention, as the grounds about Petersburg 
were very strong, if properly occupied, and bridges 
over the Appamatox would have secured a retreat to 
the defenders. Lt. Col. Simcoe pressed Gen. Arnold, 
to let him march towards Halifax, in order to gain 
information of Lord Cornwallis, from whom no ac- 
count had arrived ; it was not thought prudent to 
make a detachment while M. Fayette was supposed 
to be so near : he was, however, sent with the ca- 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 205 

valry to destroy Goode's bridge, and to return the 
next morning. After proceeding a long way, Lt. Col. 
Simcoe understood that the bridge was not within the 
distance which had been apprehended ; and Lt. Col. 
Damer, who had accompanied him, agreeing with 
him that the enemy might easily throw bridges over 
the Appamatox much nearer to Petersburg, and would 
certainly do so if they intended an attack against the 
troops there, the party returned, and lay a few miles 
from Petersburg that night, and joined the army the 
next day. The enemy sending patroles on the oppo- 
site side of the Appamatox, Lt. Spencer had proposed 
to have swam over with a party, consisting of Lieut. 
Fitzpatrick and thirty Rangers, and to have laid an 
ambuscade for them. This officer was perfectly ac- 
quainted with the minutest particulars of the ground, 
having been encamped upon it : in case of the enemy 
appearing in force, any small gully would have given 
him a secure retreat to the river, while the cannon 
and musketry, purposely stationed to protect him, 
would have prevented the enemy from molesting the 
party whilst it swam back. This design the patroles 
to Goode's bridge, had occasioned to be deferred, and 
it was to have been executed the next morning ; but, 
about the middle of the day, the enemy appeared on 
the heights, and cannonaded the quarters of the 
British army, particularly those of Gen. Phillips, 
whom they knew to be most dangerously ill, by a flag 
of truce which had been received the day before, and 
of Lt. Col. Simcoe which was on a height. Some 
shots being directed at the dragoon horses, then at 



206 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

grass, they set off full gallop towards the ferry, im- 
mediately under the enemy's cannon ; and had they 
not fired grape at them, 'tis probable they would have 
swam to the shore in their possession : their cannon- 
ading had no effect. Lt. Col. Simcoe went immedi- 
ately to Gen. Arnold, and again applied to march to- 
wards Lord Cornwallis, urging that it was apparent, 
from the discovery which the enemy had made, and 
their parade of force, that they could mean no seri- 
ous attempt on the post : the General assented, and 
the enemy had scarcely drawn off their cannon, when 
the Queen's Rangers, both cavalry and infantry, 
marched towards the Nottaway, on the road to Hali- 
fax. M. Fayette gives, as a reason for this cannon- 
ade, that he did it in order to cover the march of a 
detachment which he sent with stores, &c. to South 
Carolina. A detachment of the Queen's Rangers 
was more than sufficient to have attacked this con- 
voy, had there been information of it ; and it is very 
probable, in such a case, Gen. Arnold would have sent 
a party from the light infantry, in pursuit of it ; but 
none of Mr. Fayette's reasons impress any idea of 
his military talents : he possibly owed his personal 
safety to the patrole, which had prevented Lt. Spen- 
cer's ambuscade from being carried into execution ; 
and who, not improbably, might have made himself 
master of his cannon, by rolling them down the steeps 
of the river, before the escort, which apparently, was 
left at some distance to avoid the shot of the British 
guns, could have advanced to their rescue. Lt. Col. 
Simcoe proceeded, with the utmost expedition, to the 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 207 

Nottaway river, twenty-seven miles from Petersburg, 
where he arrived early the next morning : the bridge 
had been destroyed, which was easily repaired, and 
Major Armstrong was left with the infantry. The 
cavalry went on to Col. Gee's, a rebel militia officer : 
he attempted to escape, but was secured ; and refus- 
ing to give his parole, was sent prisoner to Major 
Armstrong. The cavalry proceeded in the afternoon 
to Hicks's ford, on the Meherrin, twenty-five miles 
from the Roanoke, within a few miles of the river 
stood Col. Hicks's house. He was deceived, and be- 
lieved the party to be an advanced guard from M. 
Fayette's army : from him the first information was 
received of Earl Cornwallis, and that his Lordship 
was certainly at Halifax, twenty miles from the Me- 
herrin ; and that it was reported his advanced guard 
had passed that river. Lt. Col. Simcoe's hopes of 
being in time to facilitate his Lordship's passage were 
at an end ; there was still a probability, if any militia 
were in his front, of being of service. Col. Hicks 
accompanied the party to Hicks's ford, where some 
militia were assembled. Serjeant Wright, who com- 
manded the advanced guard on the approach to 
Hicks's, halted and returning to Lt. Col. Simcoe, told 
him, that he had entered into conversation with one 
of the sentinels ; that the militia consisted of a Cap- 
tain and thirty men ; and that he had passed upon 
them for their friends : if he, Lt. Col. Simcoe, thought 
proper, he would relieve the whole party. Wright 
was directed to execute his intentions : the rebel 
Colonel was shown, at a sufficient distance, as a 



208 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

friend ; and Lt. Col. Simcoe and the militia officers 
assisting, the whole party was assembled, their senti- 
nels relieved, and their arms piled and secured before 
they were undeceived : they were then marched into 
a house, and their paroles given them. The Captain 
and others being selected as guides, the party crossed 
the ford, which had been obstructed by trees felled, 
as a French officer, who had been that way a few 
days before, had directed; but which the militia 
slightly executed. It was understood that Lt. Colonel 
Tarleton had passed the Roanoke ; that a Major of 
militia, who had commanded the post at Hicks's ford, 
was gone with a small party to reconnoitre. It was 
much to be feared, that if Lt. Col. Simcoe should fall 
in with Lord Cornwallis's advanced guard in the night, 
the unexpected meeting might occasion great confu- 
sion and, perhaps, loss ; and it was still probable, that 
parties of militia might be between them, which, in 
the dark, it would be impossible to discriminate ; a 
circuit was therefore taken to the right of the direct 
road ; and, at a situation a few miles from Hicks's 
ford, the party halted to feed their horses, and to re- 
fresh the men who were overcome with fatigue and 
wanted sleep : they had brought the fire arms which 
had been taken at Hicks's ford, and these were placed 
along the fence where the men slept. Serjeant Wright 
was placed in ambuscade, close to the road; and 
officers, from time to time, visited him, lest that intre- 
pid and vigilant soldier should himself give way to 
that fatigue which every body laboured under. In 
the middle of the night, Wright brought in an express 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 209 

from a captain who had been detached by M. Fayette 
for intelligence ; he had not time to destroy his des- 
patches, which confirmed the account of Col. Tarle- 
ton having passed the Roanoke : he was offered his 
liberty if he would conduct the party to the place 
where he had left his captain, the capture of whom 
would more effectually delay any intelligence which 
M. Fayette might expect ; as it afterwards appeared, 
by his public letters, was done by this express being 
made prisoner. After two hours' sleep, the party pro- 
ceeded and arrived at the place where the captain and 
his party were reported to have been ; but no person 
was there ; nor was it possible to determine whether 
the prisoner had been faithful to his original trust or 
his latter promise, The party soon arrived on the 
banks of the Roanoke, and sending forward to pre- 
vent any errors, joined Lord Cornwallis's army. His 
Lordship being on the opposite side of the river, Lt. 
Col. Simcoe passed over to him ; and a spy from 
Gen. Phillips had reached him a few hours before : it 
was Lt. Col. Simcoe's melancholy office to add to his 
Lordship's public anxieties, the intelligence of the 
irrecoverable state of health in which Gen. Phillips 
lay. The cavalry refreshed themselves at Jones's 
house ; his Lordship passed the river that evening, 
and Lt. Col. Simcoe sat out on his return. He march- 
ed by the direct road to Hicks's ford, where he found 
Lieut. Col. Tarleton, who had made a circuit to his 
right from Halifax, and had arrived there a few hours 
after Lt. Col. Simcoe left it : the rebel Major, who 
had been to reconnoitre, fell into his hands. As Lt. 
17 



210 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

Col. Tarle ton's legion were mostly clothed in white, 
it was a fortunate circumstance, in making his cir- 
cuit, he had not inarched on the road Lt. Col. Simcoe 
had taken : the party halted that night at Col. Hicks's. 
Lt. Col. Tarleton marched the next morning and pro- 
ceeded to Colonel Gee's plantation : soon after the 
Queen's Rangers marched and rejoined their infantry 
at Nottaway bridge, where they passed the night in 
great and necessary security : Lt. Col. Simcoe, with 
a few dragoons, returning to Petersburg. From the 
representations which he had made of Gen. Arnold, 
and Lt. Col. Abercrombie concurring in opinion that 
Fayette might possibly attack them, and therefore had 
deferred his necessary march to Earl Cornwallis, till 
such time, as by Fayette's cannonade, it was evident 
he could mean nothing serious, Gen. Arnold was di- 
rected to march to the Nottaway : that officer being 
of opinion, that it was no longer necessary to do so, 
went himself only, the next morning, with Lieut. Col. 
Simcoe, to the Nottaway, where he met Earl Corn- 
wallis. The Queen's Rangers returned to Petersburg 
that evening ; and his Lordship's whole army arrived 
there the next day, the 20th of May : they marched 
opposite to Westover, and passed the James river on 
the 24th. Lt. Col. Simcoe, while at Westover, re- 
ceived a letter from Gen. Lee, with whom he had 
been acquainted whilst that gentleman was prisoner 
in the Jersies, pointing out the enormities committed 
by the privateers : the proper representation was 
made to Earl Cornwallis, who took measures to pre- 
vent the future misconduct of these licensed miscre- 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 211 

ants, by representing them to Sir Henry Clinton. 
The army marched towards the Chickahominy, and 
arrived at Bottom bridge on the 28th. Lt. Col. Sim- 
coe, with his cavalry, by a circuit, passed the Chick- 
ahominy, and patrolled to New-Castle, where he seiz- 
ed some rebel officers ; and on his return, imposed 
upon and took several Virginia gentlemen, who were 
watching the motions of Earl Cornwallis. In the 
evening his Lordship marched ; and Lt. Col. Simcoe 
halted during the night, and then followed the army ; 
perhaps not without utility, as the rear was uncom- 
monly long, and the road running, in many places, 
through thickets, patroles of the enemy might easily 
have taken a great many stragglers. He divided his 
cavalry into small parties, left them at different dis- 
tances, and collected the tired men as well as possi- 
ble, which was not in the power of the infantry, that 
formed the rear guard, to effect. Capt. Cooke's troop 
joined the Queen's Rangers, from New- York, but 
without a single cavalry, appointment, or arms : the 
army halted near New-Castle on the 29th, and march- 
ed to Hanover Court-house the next day, where some 
large brass cannon, without carriages, were found, 
and attempted to be destroyed : the Queen's Rangers 
had advanced to South Anna bridge, and chased and 
took a patrole of the enemy. The next day they 
crossed the North Anna, patrolled for intelligence, and 
took a militia gentleman on his return from Fayette's 
army. The army proceeded to Tile's ordinary, on 
the 1st of June : Lt. Col. Simcoe crossed the North 
Anna, with his cavalry, with orders to get intelligence 



212 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

of Fayette's march ; and Capt. Dundas, of the guards, 
with the light company, was sent to a strong post, a 
few miles over the river, to support and cover his re- 
treat. A rebel Commissary was chased and taken ; 
and, after a long patrole, full information was obtain- 
ed of Fayette's march, and the party returned. On 
Lt. Col. Simcoe's arrival at head quarters, he found 
that two of the Queen's Rangers had committed a 
robbery and a rape : Lord Cornwallis directed him 
to enquire into the matter, which was done by the 
Captains of the corps ; and the robbery being fully 
proved, his Lordship ordered the men, agreeable to 
Lt. Col. Simcoe's desire, to be executed the next day. 
Early the next morning, Lt. Col. Simcoe marched 
towards the Baron Steuben, who was reported to be 
at the point of Fork, the head of James river : Lord 
Cornwallis informed him, that Steuben's force consist- 
ed of three or four hundred men ; and as the Queen's 
Rangers were so debilitated by the fatigues of the cli- 
mate, &c. as to have scarcely more than two hundred 
infantry and one hundred cavalry, fit for duty, his 
Lordship ordered the 71st regiment, under Capt. 
Hutchinson, consisting of two hundred rank and file, 
to join him : at Lt. Col. Simcoe's particular request, 
a three pounder was annexed. The incessant marches 
of the Rangers, and their distance from their stores, 
had so worn out their shoes, that, on Lt. Colonel Sim- 
coe's calling for a return, it appeared that near fifty 
men were absolutely barefooted ; upon assembling 
them, when they were informed that they were wanted 
for active employment, and that those who chose to 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 213 

stay with the army might do so, there was not a man 
who would remain behind the corps. Lord Cornwallis 
ordered him, on his return, to join the army at Gooch- 
land Court-house, whither he should march to receive 
his detachment, and that of Lt. Col. Tarleton, which 
was to endeavour to seize on the assembly at Char- 
lottesville ; and then, if circumstances admitted of it, 
to fall back by the point of Fork. Lt. Spencer, with 
twenty huzzars, formed the advance guard: these 
were chosen men, and mounted on the fleetest horses. 
Capt. Stevenson, with the light infantry company, and 
the Hessian riflemen, under Lt. Beikel, followed : the 
71st succeeded with the cannon, followed by Capt. 
Althause with his riflemen, and those of the Queen's 
Rangers : the infantry and Capt. Shank, with the cav- 
alry of the Rangers, closed the rear. In case of at- 
tack, the battalion in front (and the two battalions 
marched there alternately) was directed to form in 
line ; that which followed, to close up into column 
ready to march to which ever flank it was ordered, 
as the cavalry under Capt. Shank was to the other. 
The whole of the cavalry preceded the march, till 
the detachment crossed the bridge over the South 
Anna : Lt. Col. Simcoe then proceeded with the ut- 
most despatch, by Bird's ordinary, towards Napier's 
ford, the second ford on the Rivana, above the Flu- 
vana, the junction of which rivers, at the point of 
Fork, forms the James river : not a person escaped 
who was in sight, and the advanced cavalry were so 
managed as totally to conceal the advance of the in- 
fantry. At night the corps lay upon their arms, in 
17* 



214 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

the strongest position which could be conveniently 
found, on the principle of making a front each way ; 
and having a strong reserve of infantry, as well as 
cavalry, within the circle, ready to support any part 
which might be attacked, and to sally from it if or- 
dered : the guards and sentinels were, as usual, in 
ambuscade. After two days' march, as the party ap- 
proached Napier's ford, some prisoners and letters 
were taken, and other intelligence obtained, by which 
it appeared, that the march had been hitherto undis- 
covered, and that Lt. Col. Tarletbn's detachment 
alone had been heard of; that Baron Steuben was 
about to march to oppose a patrole of Earl Corn- 
wallis' army, or, more probably, deceived in his intel- 
ligence of a detachment that had never been made ; 
and, that the Baron's force consisted of nine hundred 
effective men, exclusive of the militia who were as- 
sembling to join him. The troops had already march- 
ed that day nearly twenty miles, and the two preced- 
ing days not less than thirty each, when this intelli- 
gence was accumulated. Lt. Spencer was directed to 
proceed cautiously, gaming what intelligence he could, 
to Napier's house, which stood on a high and com- 
manding ground ; near which it was intended to halt 
during the night and to ambuscade the ford, it being 
the purpose to attack the enemy, by day break, the 
next morning. Lt. Spencer went to the house of a 
Colonel Thompson, which was surrounded with very 
high fences, and, alighting from his horse, approached 
that gentleman, who was accompanied by four of the 
militia, asking, in a familiar manner, the road to the 



OP THE queen's rangers. 215 

Baron's camp. Col. Thompson, suspecting his errand, 
though armed, retreated precipitately and made his 
escape, with three of his men ; the fourth, seeing that 
two huzzars, who had accompanied Lt. Spencer, 
could not get over the fence, or assist him, presented 
a double barrel piece within five yards of his breast : 
Lt. Spencer, with great presence of mind, immediately 
threatened to have him flogged on his arrival at the 
Baron's camp, and, pulling some papers from his pock- 
et, told him, that they were his despatches from M. 
Fayette : at the same time he moved gently towards 
him, intending, if possible, to seize the muzzle of his 
firelock, but, as the one advanced, the other retreated, 
keeping his piece still presented, until, getting over a 
fence at the back of the house, he ran towards the 
river. At this moment, Lt. Spencer could have shot 
him with a pocket pistol ; but having received intima- 
tion from Lt. Col. Simcoe, that it was expected the 
enemy had a post at Napier's ford, two miles lower, 
he prudently permitted him to escape, rather than 
make an alarm : these people left five good horses 
behind them. He then proceeded to Napier's ford, 
and leaving his party unseen, at a proper distance, he 
crossed the river, with three men : on the opposite 
side were two militia men well mounted, from whom 
he learnt that Baron Steuben was at the point of 
Fork ; that he had sent the greatest part of his stores, 
and some troops, on the south side the river, and was 
superintending the transportation of the remainder 
with the greatest despatch. Lt. Spencer completely 
imposed on their credulity ; they suffered him to re- 



216 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

lieve them with two of his own men, and accompani- 
ed him to Col. Napier's house, whom he took prison- 
er. On this intelligence, Lt. CoL Simcoe determined 
to march, with the utmost celerity, towards Baron 
Steuben, hoping to cut off his rear guard : Lt. Spen- 
cer preceded and occupied the road, and every point 
from whence the troops could be seen, as they forded 
the river ; and, in order to prevent any intelligence 
from Col. Thompson. Within two miles of Baron 
Steuben's encampment, a patrole of dragoons appear- 
ed ; they were chased and taken : it consisted of a 
French officer and four of Armand's corps. They 
confirmed Lt. CoL Simcoe in his belief, that Baron 
Steuben was ignorant of his approach, as they were 
destined to patrole twenty miles from the point of 
Fork to the place where, it afterwards appeared, Earl 
Cornwallis's army had arrived the preceding night, 
and they were to have passed the Rivana at its lowest 
ford, Lt. Col. Simcoe's circuituous march, to cross 
at the upper, having answered the expected purpose. 
The advanced men of the huzzars changed clothes 
with the prisoners, and dispositions were now made 
for the attack. The huzzars in the enemy's clothing, 
were directed to gallop to the only house on the point, 
and where it was understood Baron Steuben was, at 
once to dismount and, if possible, to seize him : they 
were to be supported by a detachment of cavalry, 
the light infantry company and the cannon. Captain 
Stevenson was intended to fortify the house, and to 
place the cannon there as a point of reserve ; Captain 
Hutchinson was to form the Highlanders, on the left ; 



OF .THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 217 

and Lt. Col. Simcoe meant to occupy the wood on 
the right of the house. The order was about to be 
given for the men to lay down their knapsacks, when 
the advance guard brought in Mr. Farley, Baron Steu- 
ben's Aid du Camp : he mistook them for the patrole 
which had been just taken, and came to see whether 
it had set off. Serjeant Wright being near the size 
and appearance of Mr. Farley, was directed to ex- 
change clothes with him, to mount his horse, and lead 
the advance guard ; when that officer assured Lieut. 
Col. Simcoe, that he had seen every man over the 
Fluvana, before he left the point of Fork : this was 
confirmed by some waggoners, who, with their teams, 
were now taken. The cavalry immediately advanced, 
and the enemy being plainly seen on the opposite side, 
nothing remained but to stop some boats, which w r ere 
putting off from the extreme point : this Capt. Shank 
effected, and took about thirty people who were on 
the banks, from which the embarkation had proceed- 
ed. Every method was now taken to persuade the 
enemy, that the party was Earl Cornwallis's army, 
that they might leave the opposite shore, which was 
covered with arms and stores : Capt. Hutchinson, 
with the 71st regiment, (clothed in red,) was directed 
to advance as near to the banks of the Fluvana as he 
could with perfect safety, and without the hazard of 
a single man, from the enemy's shot, who had lined 
the opposite shore : the baggage and women halted 
among the woods, on the summit of the hill, and, in 
that position, made the appearance of a numerous 
corps : the three-pounder was carried down, the ar- 



218 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

tillery men being positively ordered to fire but one 
shot and to take the best aim possible, which they 
performed, killing the horse of one of Baron Steu- 
ben's orderly dragoons. The troops occupied the 
heights which covered the neck of the point, and 
their numbers were concealed in the wood. Baron 
Steuben was encamped on the heights on the oppo- 
site side of the river, about three quarters of a mile 
from its banks : the prisoners, and observation con- 
firmed the information which had been received of 
his numbers. As night approached, and the men were 
somewhat refreshed, every precaution was taken to 
prevent any surprise which the number, and the char- 
acter of the enemy's general, might lead them to at- 
tempt. Lt. Col. Simcoe who, from his childhood, had 
been taught to consider the military as the most ex- 
tensive and profound of sciences, had no apprehen- 
sion from the talents of such men as had been edu- 
cated in different professions, and whom accident had 
placed at the head of armies ; and he had always as- 
serted it as a principle, that, from the superiority of 
the King's troops, and of the officers who led them, 
if he should ever have a command, in which he should 
be superior in one species of troops, whether cavalry 
or infantry, he would be totally unconcerned for the 
event of any action he might have with the enemy. 
Baron Steuben had no cavalry, yet, in the present sit- 
uation, there was great room for anxiety, since the 
immediate ground of encampment was not favourable 
for the exertions of his few, but well trained, well of- 
ficered, and invincible body of cavalry ; and the ene- 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 219 

my were led by a Prussian officer. The very milita- 
ry instructions of his king were capable of forming 
better officers than any other theory could possibly do, 
or probably could be effected by the experience of ten 
campaigns under incompetent masters. In the exer- 
cise also which he had given the rebel army, the Baron 
Steuben had shown himself an able officer, and that 
he well knew how to adapt the science of war to the 
people whom he was to instruct, and to the country 
in which he was to act. He had passed the Fluvana ; 
but he had done this in consequence of his orders to 
join General Green's army : an express sent to coun- 
termand this order, Lt. Col. Simcoe knew had been 
taken a few days before by Lt. Col. Tarleton; and it 
was fair to suppose, that he might now have further 
intelligence ; that he might be perfectly acquainted 
with the numbers of his opponents, and might possi- 
bly determine to attack Lt. Col. Simcoe, as well as 
the detachment which the intercepted letter mentioned, 
that he was preparing to meet. Lt. Col. Simcoe was 
therefore apprehensive, lest Baron Steuben, having 
secured his stores which were of great value, over a 
broad and unfordable river, and, being in possession 
of all the boats, should repass his troops in the night, 
higher up the river, and fall on him, so that, if the 
British troops should be beaten, they would have no 
retreat, being shut up between two rivers, while those 
of the Americans, should they be repulsed, were pre- 
served from the pursuit of the cavalry by the thick 
woods, which came close to their encampment, and, 
from that of the infantry, by the fatigues they had un- 



220 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

dergone in a march of nearly forty miles the preced- 
ing morning. These ideas occupied the mind of Lt. 
Col. Simcoe, and he would have quitted his camp had 
he not thought the troops too much fatigued, to search 
for a more favourable position, which was not to be 
attained for some miles ; and, partly, had he not hoped 
that Steuben would believe him to be the advance of 
Earl Cornwallis' army, particularly, as the light troops 
had no soldiers among them clothed like the 71st regi- 
ment, in red. That regiment, and the Queen's Ran- 
gers, occupied the roads, with rail fletches and other 
defences : Capt. Althause, with his company and the 
Yagers, were posted on a knoll, among the woods, 
between the main body and the Fluvana, the cavalry 
lay in the rear of the Queen's Rangers, and small 
posts were extended so as to form a chain between 
the rivers. Capt. Shank had orders to send continual 
patroles of cavalry from river to river, about half a 
mile in front of the infantry ; and the troops were 
acquainted with the probability of an attack, and 
were perfectly prepared for it. At night, the enemy 
were heard destroying their boats, with great noise : 
at midnight, Capt. Shank informed Lt. Col. Simcoe, 
that they were making up their fires, and that he sup- 
posed they were moving; with which he perfectly 
agreed, when it was seen that they were uniformly 
refreshed throughout their camp. Soon after, a desert- 
er and a little drummer boy came from the enemy in a 
canoe, and gave information that Steuben had marched 
off on the road by Cumberland Court-house, towards 
North Carolina. It is remarkable this boy belonged 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 221 

to the 71st regiment : he had been taken prisoner at 
the Cow-pens, enlisted with the enemy, and now, 
making his escape, was received by the piquet which 
his father commanded. When day-light appeared, 
there was not an enemy to be seen. Sergeant John 
M'Donald, of the Highland company of the Queen's 
Rangers, swam over to the enemy's shore, and brought 
off a large canoe : two or three smaller ones were 
found on the Rivana. The cannon and riflemen 
were sent down to line the bushes on the banks of 
the Fluvana ; and, under their protection, Captain 
Stevenson, with twenty of the light infantry, passed 
over to the opposite banks, which he found covered 
with the enemy's stores. Cornet Wolsey was then 
sent over with four huzzars, with their saddles : he 
was directed to get some of the straggling horses 
which had been left by the enemy, to post himself 
upon the road on the summit of the hill, and then, if 
he should meet with an enemy's patrole, to make a 
great shout and every demonstration of pursuing 
them, to impress them with an idea that the whole 
corps had passed. Capt. Stevenson was employed in 
sending off such things as might be useful to the 
troops, and destroying the remainder. As the de- 
tachment met with plenty of provisions and forage at 
the point of Fork, Lt. Col. Simcoe determined to halt 
there the whole of the day ; but, that his return to 
Earl Cornwallis' army might not be in the least de- 
layed, he was attentive to the building of a float, by 
which he might pass the Rivana at its confluence with 
the South Anna : this would save him a day's march, 
18 



222 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

which he must have made in case he should repass it 
at the nearest ford. He also meant to use this float 
in carrying down the cannon and mortars which the 
enemy had left, to Earl Cornwallis, at Goochland 
Court-house. In the middle of the day a patrole from 
Lt. Col. Tarleton, who was on the opposite side of 
the Rivana, communicated with him ; the float was 
completed and launched towards noon, and Capt. Ste- 
venson, having effectually done his business, returned 
in the evening. Cornet Wolsey had very fortunately 
executed his orders, for a patrole of the enemy had 
approached to the place where he was posted, and, 
on perceiving him, fled with the utmost speed. It was 
afterwards understood, that on this patrole joining 
Baron Steuben, in consequence of their report, he 
immediately proceeded twenty miles farther, though 
he had already marched thirty miles from the point 
of Fork. He must have believed that the whole of 
Earl Cornwallis' army were in pursuit of him, or he 
would have scarcely abandoned such a quantity of 
stores : a guard of twenty or thirty men would have 
effectually prevented the Rangers from destroying 
them, and they would have been in perfect safety in that 
case, had Earl Corwallis adhered to his first intention, 
of halting at Goochland Court-house. The army arri- 
ving near the point of Fork on the 7th of June, Lt. Col, 
Simcoe passed the Rivana, and rejoined it. The Flu- 
vana being a larger river than the Rivana, at its con- 
fluence forces back the latter and it becomes as still 
as a mill pond. The water was fenced, as it were, 
with spars and canoes, so as to make a lane, and the 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 223 

horses swam over between them : the infantry 
passed on the float, which held, with ease, a hun- 
dred and thirty men, and had been made in four 
hours ; and the artillery, some of which had been 
brought over from the opposite shore in a smaller 
boat, made by the junction of two canoes, were car- 
ried over on it, and put into empty waggons sent by 
Earl Cornwallis for' that purpose. There were 
destroyed at the point of Fork, two thousand five 
hundred stand of arms, a large quantity of gunpow- 
der, case shot, &c, several casks of saltpetre, sul- 
phur, and brimstone, and upwards of sixty hogsheads 
of rum and brandy, several chests of carpenters' 
tools, and upwards of four hundred intrenching tools, 
with casks of flints, sail cloth and waggons, and a 
great variety of small stores, necessary for the equip- 
ment of cavalry and infantry : such linen and neces- 
saries, as would be of immediate service, were divid- 
ed among the captors. There were taken off, a thir- 
teen-inch mortar, five brass eight-inch howitzers, and 
four long brass nine pounders, mounted afterwards at 
York Town : all French pieces and in excellent or- 
der. Lieut. Col. Simcoe, on the 9th of June, was 
detached with his cavalry to destroy some tobacco in 
the warehouses, on the northern bank of the Fluvana : 
he passed at the lowest ford, and proceeding to the 
Seven islands, destroyed one hundred and fifty barrels 
of gunpowder, and burnt all the tobacco in the ware- 
houses on the river side, returning with some rebel 
militia whom he had surprised and made prisoners. 
The army remained in this district till the 13th of 



224 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

June ; and the cavalry of the Queen's Rangers made 
several patroles, particularly one to Bird's ordinary, 
at midnight, where, it was understood, . the Marquis 
de la Fayette, with his forces, had arrived. It ap- 
peared, however, that they were at a great distance, 
so that the army moved towards Richmond, the 
Queen's Rangers forming the rear guard. The 71st 
regiment here left the Rangers ; the two corps had 
acted with the utmost harmony together, and Lt. Col. 
Simcoe remembers, with great satisfaction, the ex- 
pressions of good will and regret which both the offi- 
cers and soldiers of that distinguished regiment made 
use of, when they quitted his command. Earl Corn- 
wallis arrived at Richmond the 16th of June. On 
the 17th, Lt. Col. Simcoe was detached with some 
infantry and his cavalry, to pass the James river, near 
Henrico Court-house ; which he did the next morn- 
ing, to facilitate the passage of the boats with con- 
valescents up to Richmond, and to clear the southern 
banks of the James river of any parties of militia 
who might be stationed to annoy them. The detach- 
ment recrossed the river on the night of the 19th, 
from Manchester to Richmond, and Captain Ewald, 
with the Yagers, joined the Queen's Rangers. On 
the 20th it being reported that the enemy had a flying 
corps, all mounted, under Gen. Muhlenberg, and con- 
sisting of twelve hundred men, Lt. Col. Simcoe was 
directed to patrole for intelligence : he marched with 
forty cavalry (but considering this a service of par- 
ticular danger) with the utmost caution. He quitted 
the road and marched through the woods, as nearly 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 225 

parallel to it as the enclosures, which had been clear- 
ed, would admit. After a march of a few miles, to 
his great satisfaction, he discovered a flag of truce, 
of the enemy ; and he was certain, that according to 
their custom, some of them would be found in its rear. 
Lt. Spencer was therefore detached with a small par- 
ty to get beyond them upon the road, which he 
effected, and found himself in the rear of a party of 
twenty men ; but the woods on his right being open, 
though Lt. Lawler supported him in front, one officer 
and two or three men only were taken. Lt. Col. 
Simcoe immediately returned, having procured from 
the prisoners every requisite intelligence. The army 
marched, on the 21st of June, to Bottom-bridge, and 
on the 22d to New Kent Court-house : the Queen's 
Rangers, who made the rear with the Yagers, lay near 
two miles on the left of the army. Lt. Coi. Simcoe 
was ordered to march the next day towards the Chick- 
ahominy, where it was supposed there was a foundery, 
and some boats : these he was to destroy, to collect 
all the cattle he could find in the country, and proceed 
to Williamsburg ; and Lord Cornwallis expressly told 
him, that he might, in these operations, safely stay 
two or three days behind the army, who were to be 
at Williamsburg on the 25th of June. Lt. Col. Sim- 
coe marched early in the morning of the 24th, con- 
suming a quantity of Indian corn, which had been 
collected by the enemy's commissary, at the house 
where he quartered : he found little or nothing to de- 
stroy on the Chickahominy, and halted that night at 
Dandrige's, as Earl Cornwallis did in the neighbour- 
18* 



226 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

hood of Bird's ordinary. The bridge over the Diesc- 
kung creek (a branch of the Chickahominy) had been 
broken down : this was three miles in the rear of the 
detachment, and Lt. Coi. Simcoe would have passed 
it that night, so diffident was he of his security, had 
not the men been too much fatigued with their march, 
to be employed in so laborious a task as the repair of 
this bridge was understood to be. The next morn- 
ing, at day break, the detachment arrived there : it 
had been carelessly destroyed, and was, by anxious 
and laborious exertion, repaired sufficiently to pass 
over. Lt. Col. Simcoe then destroyed it most effect- 
ually, and marched on to Cooper's mills on the 25th, 
near twenty miles from Williamsburg, where Earl 
Cornwallis arrived in the course of the day. Lord 
Cornwallis's waggons had been at the mills the day 
before, and taken from thence all the flour they con- 
tained, so that it was difficult to get subsistence. Lt. 
Col. Simcoe felt his situation to be a very anxious 
one : he had not the smallest information of the ene- 
my's movements, whom he knew to be active and en- 
terprising; to have been lately joined by Gen. Wayne; 
and, that it was their obvious policy, to follow Earl 
Cornwallis as far towards the neck of Williamsburg 
as with safety they could, and to take any little ad- 
vantage which they could magnify in their newspa- 
pers. He had received no advices from Earl Corn- 
wallis, whose general intelligence he knew to be very 
bad ; and he and Major Armstrong agreed with Capt. 
Ewald, that the slightest reliance was not to be placed 
on any patroles from his Lordship's army. The next 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 227 

advantage, to receiving good intelligence, is to deceive 
the enemy with that which is false : Lt. Col. Simcoe 
could not procure any confidential person to go to M. 
de la Fayette's camp : he therefore promised a great 
reward to a man, whom he knew to be a rebel, to go 
thither, with express injunctions to return to him by 
six or seven o'clock, at the farthest, the next morning, 
at which time he said he should march. The man 
accordingly set out towards night ; and, at two o'clock 
in the morning, Major Armstrong with the Yagers, 
infantry and cannon, was on his march to Spencer's 
ordinary, on the forks of the road between Williams- 
burg and Jamestown : there he was to halt till the 
cavalry joined him, and then the whole, with the con- 
voy of cattle, which C apt. Branson, with some North 
Carolina loyalists, had been employed to collect, was 
to proceed to Williamsburg. Lt. Col. Simcoe, with 
the cavalry, was under arms at the time his infantry 
marched, and ready to proceed whenever Captain 
Branson thought there was light sufficient to drive the 
cattle, and to collect whatever might be met with on 
the road : the cavalry did not leave their camp till 
three o'clock. On approaching Spencer's ordinary, 
Lieut. Col. Simcoe ordered the fences to be thrown 
down, and rode into the open ground upon the right, 
observing it, as was his custom, and remarking, to the 
officers with him, " that it was an admirable place for 
" the chicanery of action." Lt. Lawler had been 
previously sent to direct the infantry to move onward 
to Williamsburg, when Major Armstrong returning 
with him, informed Lt. Col. Simcoe that there were 



228 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

near an hundred head of cattle in the neighbourhood ; 
but that he waited till the drivers arrived to spare the 
infantry from that fatigue. Capt. Branson, with his 
people, went to collect them ; and Capt. Shank, who 
commanded the cavalry, was directed to feed his 
horses at Lee's farm, and Lt. Col. Simcoe accompani- 
ed Major Armstrong to the infantry. The highland 
Company of the Queen's Rangers had been posted 
in the wood, by the side of the road, as a piquet: a 
shot or two from their sentinels gave an alarm, and 
Lt. Col. Simcoe gallopping across the field, towards 
the wood, saw Capt. Shank in pursuit of the enemy's 
cavalry. They had passed through the fences which 
had been pulled down, as before-mentioned, so that, 
unperceived by the Highlanders, they arrived at Lee's 
farm, in pursuit of the people who were collecting 
the cattle. Trumpeter Barney, who had been sta- 
tioned as a vidette, gave the alarm, and gallopped off 
so as not to lead the enemy directly to where the 
cavalry were collecting their forage and watering, 
and, with great address, got to them unperceived by 
the enemy, calling out " draw your swords Rangers, 
" the rebels are coming." Capt. Shank, who was at 
Lee's farm waiting the return of the troops with their 
forage, in order to post them, immediately joined, and 
led them to the charge on the enemy's flank, which 
was somewhat exposed, while some of them were 
engaged in securing the bat-horses at the back of 
Lee's farm : he broke them entirely. Serjeant Wright 
dashed Major Macpherson, who commanded them, 
from his horse ; but, leaving him in pursuit of others, 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 229 

that officer crept into a swamp, lay there unperceived 
during the action, and when it was over got off. 
Trumpeter Barney dismounted and took a French 
officer, who commanded one of the divisions. The 
enemy's cavalry were so totally scattered, that they 
appeared no more : many of them were dismounted, 
and the whole would have been taken, had not a heavy 
fire out of the wood, from whence the Highland com- 
pany were now driven, protected them. At this mo- 
ment Lt. Col. Simcoe arrived : he had, at the first 
shot, ordered the infantry to march in column into 
the road towards the enemy, the light infantry com- 
pany and Capt. Ewald's detachment excepted, which, 
being on the right, were moving straight to their own 
front to gain the wood. Collecting from the prison- 
ers, that the enemy were in force, and that M. de la 
Fayette, and Generals Wayne and Steuben were at 
no great distance, the line was directed to be formed, 
spreading itself with wide intervals, and covering a 
great space of ground between the road on its left 
and Capt. Ewald on the right; and, when formed, it 
was directed to advance to gain the wood, as it was 
his idea, to outflank the enemy by the length of the 
line. The principle which Lieut. Col. Simcoe always 
inculcated and acted on against the riflemen, (whom 
he judged to be in the advanced corps of M. Fayette's 
army,) was to rush upon them ; when, if each sepa- 
rate company kept itself compact, there was little 
danger, even should it be surrounded, from troops 
who were without bayonets, and whose object it was 
to fire a single shot with effect : the position of an 



230 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

advancing soldier was calculated to lessen the true 
aim of the first shot, and his rapidity to prevent the 
rifleman, who requires some time to load, from giving 
a second ; or at least to render his aim uncertain, and 
his fire by no means formidable. Lieut. Col. Simcoe 
had withdrawn the cavalry from the fire of the ene- 
my, and directed Capt. Althause, whose rifle compa- 
ny had been mounted, to dismount and to check them, 
if they sallied from the wood in pursuit of the caval- 
ry, or for the purpose of reconnoitering ; and this he 
executed very effectually. Captain Branson had dis- 
tinguished himself in the charge on the enemy's ca- 
valry, and being dressed in red, he became a marked 
object to them : he was now ordered with the drivers 
and the cattle, to proceed to Williamsburg ; expresses 
were sent to Lord Cornwallis ; and Lt. Allen, who 
acted as Quarter-Master, carried off the baggage that 
road, was directed to cut down trees, and to barricade 
the first pass for the corps to rally, in case of neces- 
sity : the fences were pulled down on the Jamestown 
road, in the rear of the cavalry, that the retreat might 
be made that way, if, which was every moment to be 
expected, the enemy should have occupied the Wil- 
liamsburg road in the rear. Lt. Col. Simcoe moved 
with the cavalry out of sight of the enemy, down the 
hill towards Jamestown road, and re-ascending at 
Lee's farm, there made a display of the whole force ; 
then fell back again behind the hill, leaving only the 
front, a detachment of huzzars, both to prevent the 
left from being turned without notice, and to deceive 
the enemy into a belief that the whole cavalry (whose 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 231 

force they had already felt) were behind the eminen- 
ces, waiting for an opportunity to fall upon their right 
flank : he returned rapidly with the rest of the caval- 
ry undiscovered to the road, and formed them out of 
sight and out of reach of the enemy, partly in the 
road and partly on its left. Beyond Captain Ewald's 
flank there was open ground, which could easily be 
seen from the eminence on which Lieut. Col. Simcoe 
was, and (by the turn of the Williamsburg road) the 
cavalry would have had quick access to it, had the 
enemy appeared there : by the position of the cavalry, 
it was also ready, in case the infantry had given way 
to flank the enemy, if they should issue from the 
wood in pursuit of it ; the best substitute for want of 
the reserve, which from the extent of the woods and 
the enemy's numbers, had been thrown into the line. 
Upon the left of the road the three pounder was placed, 
the amuzette having broken down : there too the 
Highland company had retired. The enemy now ap- 
peared in great force, lining the fences on the edge of 
the wood (which separated it from the open ground) 
in front of the infantry; and refusing their right 
upon the open ground, by echelons ; probably de- 
ceived by the appearance of the cavalry at Lee's farm : 
to add to their reasons for not advancing, one cannon 
shot, and no more, was ordered to be fired at the 
body, which appeared to be at the greatest distance. 
The infantry was now in line, but with intervals be- 
tween the companies, advancing as fast as the 
ploughed fields they had to cross would admit. Lt. 
Col. Simcoe did not expect victory, but he was deter- 



232 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

mined to try for it ; his best hopes were to obtain and 
line the wood, checking the enemy's advance, till such 
times as the convoy was in security, and then to re- 
treat. He had the most general and particular confi- 
dence in the officers and soldiers of his corps, who 
were disciplined enthusiasts in the cause of their coun- 
try ', and who, having been ever victorious, thought it 
impossible to suffer defeat ; nor had he less reliance 
on the acknowledged military talents of his friend 
Ewald, and the cool and tried courage of his Yagers : 
the event fully justified the expression which he used 
in the beginning of the action, " I will take care of the 
" left ; while Ewald lives, the right flank will never 
"be turned." Fortune now decided in favour of the 
British troops : the road from Norwal's mills was en- 
closed with high and strong fences ; a considerable 
body of the enemy being on the right of the road, 
and, seeing the infantry advancing, faced and were 
crossing these fences to flank them : they did not ob- 
serve the cavalry, which, while they were in this dis- 
order, lost not the moment ; but, led by Capt. Shank, 
charged them up the road, and upon its left, entirely 
broke and totally dispersed them. The infantry were 
ordered to advance, and they rushed on with the 
greatest rapidity ; the enemy's fire was in vain, they 
were driven from the fences and the wood. Capt. 
Ewald turned their left flank, and gave them a severe 
fire as they fled in the utmost confusion: could he 
have been supported as he wished, by a very small 
body of fresh bayonet men, such was the advantage 
of the ground, that the enemy, in confusion, and pan- 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 233 

ick strucken, would have received a very severe blow, 
before it could have been possible for them to rally. 
Cornet Jones, who led the first division of cavalry, 
was unfortunately killed : he was an active, sensible, 
promising officer. The mounted riflemen of the 
Queen's Rangers charged with Capt. Shank : the gal- 
lant Sergeant M'Pherson, who led them, was mortally 
wounded. Two of the men of this detachment were 
carried away by their impetuosity so far as to pass 
beyond the enemy, and their horses were killed : they, 
however, secreted themselves in the wood under some 
fallen logs, and, when the enemy fled from that spot, 
they returned in safety to the corps. By a mistake, 
scarcely avoidable in the tumult of action, Capt. Shank 
was not supported, as was intended, by the whole of 
his cavalry, by which fewer prisoners were taken than 
might have been : that valuable officer was in the 
most imminent danger, in fighting his way back 
through the enemy, who fired upon him, and wound- 
ed the Trumpeter Barney and killed some of the 
huzzars, who attended him. The grenadier compa- 
ny, commanded by Capt. M'Gill, signalized by their 
gallantry as well as by their dress, lost several valua- 
ble men. Capt. Stevenson was distinguished as usual : 
his chosen and well trained light infantry were obsti- 
nately opposed ; but they carried their point with the 
loss of a fourth of their numbers, killed and wounded. 
An affair of this nature necessarily afforded a great 
variety of gallant actions in individuals. Capt. M'Rae 
reported to Lt. Col. Simcoe, that his subaltern, Lt. 
Charles Dunlop, who had served in the Queen's Ran- 
19 



234 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

gers from thirteen years of age, led on his division 
on horseback, without suffering a man to fire, watch- 
ing the enemy, and giving a signal to his men to lay 
down whenever a party of their's was about to fire : 
he arrived at the fence where the enemy had been 
posted with his arms loaded, a conduct that might 
have been decisive of the action : fortunately he es- 
caped unhurt. The whole of the loss of the Queen's 
Rangers amounted to ten killed, and twenty-three 
wounded ; among the latter was Lt. Swift Armstrong, 
and Ensign Jarvis, acting with the grenadiers : the 
Yagers had two or three men wounded and one killed. 
It may be supposed, in the course of so long a service, 
there was scarcely a man of them, whose death did 
not call forth a variety of situations, in which his 
courage had been distinguished, or his value exempli- 
fied ; and it seemed to every one, as if the flower of 
the regiment had been cut off. As the whole series 
of the service of light troops gives the greatest lati- 
tude for the exertion of individual talents, and of indi- 
vidual courage, so did the present situation require 
the most perfect combination of them : every division, 
every officer, every soldier had his share in the merit 
of the action : mistake in the one might have brought 
on cowardice in the other, and a single panick struck- 
en soldier would probably have infected a platoon, 
and led to the utmost confusion and ruin ; so that Lt. 
Col. Simcoe has ever considered this action as the 
climax of a campaign of five years, as the result of 
true discipline acquired in that space by unremitted 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 235 

diligence, toil, and danger, as an honourable victory 
earned by veteran intrepidity. 

The instant Lt. Col. Simcoe could draw off and 
collect his force, and had communicated with Capt. 
Ewald, it was thought proper to retreat; the informa- 
tion obtained from two and thirty prisoners, many of 
them officers and of different corps, making it expe- 
dient so to do : the wounded men were collected into 
Spencer's ordinary, there being no waggons with the 
detachment, and they were left there with the sur- 
geon's mate, and a flag of truce. The infantry filed 
off to the right, and the cavalry closed the rear : the 
party soon arrived at a brook, on the opposite and 
commanding side of which Lt. Allen, with the pioneers, 
had cut down some trees, and was proceeding to give 
it such defences as it was capable of receiving. In 
less than two miles, Lt. Col. Simcoe met Earl Corn- 
wallis, and the advance of his army, and returned 
with them towards Spencer's ordinary : he reported 
to his Lordship what he had learned from an examin- 
ation of the rebel prisoners, and by his own and his 
officers' observations ; that the enemy were, at the 
least, twelve hundred strong in action, above three 
times the numbers of his corps ; that Fayette's army 
was at no great distance ; that they had marched 
twenty-eight miles, and had no provisions : Lt. Col. 
Simcoe added, that he had effectually destroyed the 
Diescung bridge. Earl Cornwallis examined the pris- 
oners, and observed to Lt. Col. Simcoe, that it was 
a march of great hazard in Fayette, as on the least 
previous intimation he must have been cut off. On 



236 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

the approach to Spencer's, Lt. Col. Simcoe galloped 
forward, and was very happy to find, that his wound- 
ed men were not prisoners, none of the enemy hav- 
ing approached them ; and he found a foraging party 
of Earl Cornwallis' army, with the waggons on which 
the wounded and the dead were placed. So little 
idea was there entertained of Fayette's move, that 
this foraging party had proceeded some miles on the 
Williamsburg road, and would have been certainly 
taken, had it not been for the action at Spencer's. It 
was reported, and not without probability, that a pa- 
trole of the enemy met with this party on the road, 
where it was natural to expect Lord Cornwallis' army, 
and took it for his advance guard, and that this belief 
prevented them from renewing the attack. Lt. Col. 
Tarleton soon after arrived at Spencer's : he had 
advanced up the Williamsburg road, and in the wood 
in front of Spencer's, met with a great number of 
arms, thrown away, and other symptoms of the con- 
fusion in which the enemy had fled : the army return- 
ed to Williamsburg, and the Queen's Rangers were 
hutted on the right at Queen's creek. At the com- 
mencement of the action, the bat-men and their 
horses, feeding at Lee's farm, were taken ; they were 
all rescued, Lt. Col. Simcoe's groom excepted, the 
only prisoner the enemy carried off. It was general- 
ly reported, that the person who had been sent to 
Fayette's camp, from Cooper's mills, conducted Gen. 
Wayne thither, about four o'clock in the morning, 
who, with a large force, charged with fixed bayonets, 
the fires which the Queen's Rangers had but just quit- 






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OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 237 

ted. M. Fayette, in his public letters, stated the loss 
of the British at one hundred and fifty killed and 
wounded, and attributed it to the skill of his rifle- 
men : his own he diminished, recapitulating that only 
of the continental troops, and taking no notice of the 
militia : it is certain they had a great many killed and 
wounded, exclusive of the prisoners. The riflemen, 
however dexterous in the use of their arms, were by 
no means the most formidable of the rebel troops ; 
their not being armed with bayonets, permitted their 
opponents to take liberties with them which otherwise 
would have been highly improper. Cornet Jones was 
buried at Williamsburg the next day, with military 
honours. It was given out in the public orders, at 
Williamsburg, on the 28th of June, that " Lord Corn- 
" wallis desires Lieut. Col. Simcoe will accept of his 
" warmest acknowledgments for his spirited and judi- 
" cious conduct in the action of the 26th instant, when 
" he repulsed and defeated so superior a force of the 
" enemy. He likewise desires that Lt. Col. Simcoe 
" will communicate his thanks to the officers and sol- 
" diers of the Queen's Rangers, and to Captain Ewald 
" and the detachment of Yagers." 

Earl Cornwallis visiting York Town on the 28th of 
June, Lt. Col. Simcoe, with the cavalry, escorted him 
thither ; his Lordship disapproving of it as a post, 
Lt. Col. Simcoe observed to him, that if any of the 
points below it, and one was then in their view, would 
be more favourable for such a garrison as his Lord- 
ship intended, that it would be easy to remove York 
Town to it : his Lordship assented, and personally 
19* 



238 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

made the necessary enquiry ; but the water was not 
sufficiently deep to harbour ships of war. The ene- 
my fired a random shot or two, from Gloucester, at 
the escort when it marched into York Town, and 
were prepared to repeat it on its return ; but this was 
avoided by keeping on the heights, and Earl Cornwal- 
lis returned in the evening. The Queen's Rangers 
made two patroles during the continuance of the army 
at Williamsburg : the first was with the design of as- 
certaining the enemy's post : Lt. Col. Simcoe left the 
infantry in ambuscade, about five miles from Wil- 
liamsburg, and proceeding seven or eight miles further, 
drove in the enemy's advance guard. The second 
patrole was made to the same spot, and for the same 
purpose, Earl Cornwallis understanding the enemy 
had left it. The peninsula was intersected with roads, 
full of small woods, and the enemy were in force. Lt. 
Col. Simcoe expected to be ambuscaded ; so that he 
marched only with his cavalry, and through bye-paths 
and the woods. In approaching the post, he left the 
party with orders for them to retreat whensoever the 
bugle-horns sounded the advance, and proceeded him- 
self with a small escort, some officers and the bugle- 
horns ; being mounted on a tall horse, a matter of 
great utility in all reconnoitering parties, he saw the 
heads of some people in ambuscade, before they 
could stoop from notice on his approach, and another 
party was plainly discovered on their march to get 
behind him on the Williamsburg road : the horns 
sounded, the alarm was given, and the party retreat- 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 239 

ed by the ways they came, unmolested, to Williams- 
burg. 

On the 4th of July the army marched to James- 
town, for the purpose of crossing the river at that 
place, and proceeding to Portsmouth: the Queen's 
Rangers crossed the river that evening, and took post 
to cover the baggage, which was passing over as ex- 
peditiously as possible. On the evening of the 6th, 
as Earl Cornwallis had predicted, M. de la Fayette 
attacked his army, mistaking it for the rear guard 
only : the affair was almost confined to the 80th and 
76th regiments, under the command of Lt. Col. Dun- 
das, whose good conduct and gallantry was conspicu- 
ously displayed on that occasion. M. de la Fayette 
was convinced of his error, by being instantly re- 
pulsed, and losing what cannon he had brought with 
him. The army having been passed over, marched 
on the 9th towards Portsmouth. On its halting at 
Suffolk, the Queen's Rangers being ordered for em- 
barkation, proceeded to the vicinity of Portsmouth 
on the 14th, and embarked on the 20th : the em- 
barkation of which, the Queen's Rangers made a 
part, was supposed to be intended to co-operate in 
an attack on Philadelphia. It was countermanded, 
and the troops, sailing up the river, landed at York 
Town on the 2d of August : the Rangers being, of 
the first disembarkation, under Lt. Col. Abercrombie. 
Several patroles were made from York Town to 
Williamsburg, by the cavalry of the Queen's Rang- 
ers, latterly under the command of Capt. Shank, the 
health of Lt. Col. Simcoe being much impaired. This 



240 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

journal, hastening to a conclusion, it is proper that it 
may be completed, to take notice of Capt. Saunders, 
and the officers, and chosen men, whom he had taken 
with him, in order to complete his troop, on General 
Leslie's expedition ; and this cannot be better accom- 
plished than by extracts from a letter which that offi- 
cer wrote to Lt. Col. Simcoe. 

" Agreeable to your desire, I now detail some an- 
ecdotes of the detachment which was sent under my 
command with Gen. Leslie : on the evening* of the 
arrival of the fleet in Lynnhaven bay, I was ordered 
by Gen. Leslie to land with a detachment, consisting 
of a subaltern's command of the guards, and the offi- 
cers and twelve men of my troop, and to march 
through Princess Ann, for the purpose of taking some 
of the most violent leaders of the rebels, in that coun- 
ty ; but the great swell of the sea obliging me to land 
in a different place from which I had intended, I was, 
in consequence, constrained to cross the Lynnhaven 
inlet, which was unfordable. Knowing that there 
was a canoe about half a mile on the other side, I 
asked if any one would volunteer the service of 
fetching it ; Serjeant Burt instantly offered himself, 
and, with his sword in his mouth, plunged into the 
water, swam over and brought the canoe, in which we 
crossed, and this he did although, on our arrival at 
the inlet, we had observed a man on horseback, who 
appeared from the precipitancy with which he had 
rode off, to have been placed there as a vidette. A 
few days after this, I was sent with a detachment, 
under the orders of Col. Schutz, to Suffolk, by 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 241 

Sleepy-hole ferry : we crossed the ferry at night, and 
by preceding (under cover of the darkness) with my 
troop, the rest of the detachment, I collected a suffi- 
cient number of horses to mount both men and offi- 
cers. From Suffolk we returned to Portsmouth, 
when I requested General Leslie to permit me to oc- 
cupy the post at Kemp's landing, with the two officers 
and the non-commissioned officers, and twelve private 
dragoons of my troop, which he granted, after I had 
explained to him my intimate knowledge of the peo- 
ple, and of the country. With this force I remained 
there until the General was obliged to embark for 
South Carolina. On our arrival at Charles Town, 
Colonel Balfour ordered my officers and men up to 
George Town ; and, as he told me that he had not 
authority to permit the return of myself and party to 
the regiment, I found it necessary to go to Wynnes- 
burg (180 miles) where Lord Cornwallis was encamp- 
ed, to solicit his leave. He granted it ; I returned to 
Charles Town, and had the men in the boat, to em- 
bark in the Romulus, when the arrival of the express 
with Tarleton's disaster at the Cowpens, induced Col. 
Balfour to countermand the embarkation, and to de- 
tain us till the impression made by this unfortunate 
event should be done away. He ordered me and my 
troop to George Town, promising not only to explain 
to you the necessity of my detention, but also that it 
should not be long : I went there, and soon after ob- 
tained the command of that post. But before I men- 
tion what happened under my orders, I shall premise 
the behaviour of the troop, prior to this, when Lieut, 



242 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

Wilson had the command of it. On the 25th De- 
cember, 1780, being the day after Lieut. Wilson's 
arrival at George Town, he and his party made a pa- 
trole, under the command of Col. Campbell of Fan- 
ning's corps, when they fell in with a party of above 
fifty mounted rebels, which they were ordered to 
charge. They immediately did it, and with effect, 
defeating them and taking one of their officers pri- 
soner : the others owed their escape to the speed of 
their horses, and the thickness of the wood. Lieut. 
Wilson was wounded ; he received the thanks of Col. 
Campbell for his conduct in the following words : f It 
' is with pleasure that the Commanding Officer ob- 
' serves the spirit and gallantry of the troops in 
6 general, but is infinitely obliged to Capt. Blucke and 
' Lieut. Wilson, for their distinguished gallantry and 
' behaviour this day. Laments much the wound re- 
4 ceived by the latter, as it may for a few days deprive 
; him of the services of a good officer.' On the 6th 
January following, Lt. Col. Campbell having marched 
some distance into the country, saw about a dozen 
mounted men in the road : he ordered Lieut. Wilson 
with his party to charge them. They instantly went 
to the right about, and retreated with precipitation 
within a corps which had dismounted and taken a 
strong and advantageous post in a swampy thick 
wood on each side of the road. Lt. Wilson and his 
party received a heavy and unexpected fire from this 
ambuscade, but impelled by their wonted spirit and 
intrepidity, and unaccustomed to defeat, they continu- 
ed the charge and obliged the rebels to betake them- 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 243 

selves to their horses, and to flight. Serjeants Burt 
and Hudgins, having charged through them, were car- 
ried off by them ; Corporal Hudgins was killed, 
covered with wounds ; two or three of the men were 
wounded, and three horses killed. 

" Among a variety of other parties sent into the 
country by me, in order to prevent, as much as pos- 
sible, depredation and violence by small bodies of reb- 
els, who occasionally infested the vicinity of George 
Town, Lt. Wilson was ordered, about the middle of 
February, 1781, to go about forty miles up the Wac- 
cama river, with a detachment of between thirty and 
forty men, in order to take Capt. Clarke, a very ac- 
tive officer, prisoner, who was said to have a small 
party with him, for the purpose of protecting himself 
and oppressing the inhabitants on Waccama neck ; 
he was ordered also, to mount his party, if possible, 
and to return by land. He sat out in the evening 
with the first of the tide, and would have reached 
Clarke's house before day had it not been for a heavy 
fall of rain up the country, which checked the tide 
with such force, that, notwithstanding every effort, 
he found at day-light that he had not proceeded above 
half way, he therefore landed, sent back the boats, 
and lay concealed in a house till evening, keeping 
every passenger prisoner : he then marched to Clarke's 
house, which he reached before day-light, took him 
prisoner, but found none of his party then with him ; 
took horses sufficient to mount his party, and return- 
ed, without loss, to George Town. In the latter end 
of February, Cornet Merrit was ordered, with a party 



244 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

of a serjeant and ten dragoons, to cover some negroes 
who were sent to the neighbouring plantations to 
search for and bring in some cattle that had escaped 
from us : he, from his great zeal and anxiety to ac- 
complish this service, was led rather farther than was 
intended, when he unexpectedly fell in with a corps 
of the rebels, much superior to his both in the num- 
ber and the goodness of their horses. He retreated, in 
good order, for some distance, but, finding himself 
much harrassed from the fire of their advance, and 
seeing that it would be impracticable to get off without 
giving them a check, he determined on charging them, 
which he did several times, and with such vigour that 
he always repulsed them. He thus alternately charged 
and retreated, till having had two horses killed under 
him, he was so stunned by the fall of the last, that he 
was left for dead. The rebels were so awed by their 
repeated repulses, that they suffered his party to es- 
cape into the woods, when, by dismounting and con- 
cealing themselves in the thick savannahs, most of 
them got safe into the post : the serjeant was killed, 
and four men were wounded; several horses 
killed. Merrit, being supposed to be dead, was for- 
tunate enough, after having recovered his senses, to 
get to the fort with the loss of his boots, helmet, and 
arms. Cornet Merrit having been sent, about the 
beginning of March, with a flag, to carry a letter to 
Gen. Marion, by order of Col. Balfour, was detained 
a prisoner to retaliate for the detention of one Capt. 
Postell, who, after the surrender of Charles Town, 
had taken a protection and the oaths to us ; and had, 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 245 

notwithstanding again taken up arms, and had the im- 
pudence to come to George Town, with a flag of truce, 
where I detained him. They crammed Merrit, with 
about twenty others, Serjeants and privates of differ- 
ent British regiments, in a small, nasty, dark place, 
made of logs, called a bull-pen ; but he was not long 
here before he determined to extricate himself and his 
fellow prisoners, which he thus effected : after having 
communicated his intention to them, and found them 
ready to support him, he pitched upon the strongest 
and most daring soldier, and having waited some days 
for a favourable opportunity, he observed that his 
guards (militia) were much alarmed, which he found 
was occasioned by a party of British having come into 
that neighbourhood. He then ordered this soldier to 
seize the sentry, who was posted at a small square 
hole cut through the logs, and which singly served the 
double purposes of door and window, which he in- 
stantly executed, drawing the astonished sentry to 
this hole with one hand, and threatning to cut his 
throat with a large knife which he held in the other, 
if he made the smallest resistance, or out-cry ; then 
Cornet Merrit, and the whole party, crawled out the 
one after the other, undiscovered by the guard, though 
it was in the day time, until the whole had got out. 
He then drew them up, which the officer of the guard 
observing, got his men under arms, as fast as he could, 
and threatened to fire on them if they attempted to 
go off: Merrit replied, that if he dared to fire a single 
shot at him, that he would cut the whole of his guard 
to pieces, (having concerted with his men in such a 
20 



246 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

case, to rush upon the enemy and tear their arms out 
of their hands,) which so intimidated him, that, al- 
though Merrit's party was armed only with the spoils 
of the sentry and with clubs, he yet permitted them 
to march off, unmolested, to a river at some distance, 
where Cornet Merrit knew, from conversation which 
he had had with the sentries, that there was a large 
rice-boat, in which he embarked and brought his party 
through ^country of above fifty miles'safe into George 
Town. To you the undaunted spirit and bravery of this 
young man, is not unknown : they obtained for & him in 
his distress your friendship and protection. Col. Bal- 
four was pleased to approve his conduct, and in a letter 
to me, dated Charles Town 2d April 1781, expresses 
it then " I rejoice most sincerely that your Cornet has 
" escaped, his conduct and resolution does him great 
" credit, and I wish I had it in my power to show him 
" my sense of it by more substantial marks than this 
" testimony ; but the only mode I have is by offering 
" him a Lieutenancy of a provincial troop :" this 
Cornet Merrit declined. Lt. Wilson was sent, on the 
2d of April, with twenty men, attended by a galley, 
to cover a party sent to load some flats with forage, 
at a plantation on Black river : he debarked and re- 
mained on shore several hours before he saw a single 
rebel ; but when he had nearly completed his business, 
he was attacked by above sixty of them, under the 
command of a Major Benson : he repulsed them in 
two attempts that they they made to get within the 
place where he had posted himself; he then charged 
and drove them off. A rebel Lieutenant was mortally 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 247 

wounded, several others slightly : Lt. Wilson and five 
of his men were wounded. Col. Balfour expressed 
his approbation of Wilson's conduct in this affair. 

" I shall conclude this detail with mentioning one 
more instance of the gallant behaviour of Merrit, 
which it would be injustice to omit : being obliged in 
an attack I made on the rebel partisan Snipe to ap- 
proach the house in which he had his party, through 
a narrow lane, terminated within half musket shot of 
the house by a strong gate, which, I expected, would 
detain us some time to open ; when it was probable 
their guard would fire on us ; and, as I was particu- 
larly anxious to prevent any kind of check with the 
troops I then had with me, I picked out Merrit, Cor- 
poral Franks, and four men of my troop to proceed 
and make an opening for the detachment, which he 
effected with such readiness and spirit, that the pas- 
sage was cleared by the time that the detachment 
could get up, although, for that purpose, he had been 
obliged to dismount his party under the fire from 
their guard, and that the gate and fence, on each side 
of it, had been secured and strengthened, with an 
unexpected degree of care and attention. Col. Bal- 
four writing to me in the month of April, when I com- 
manded at George Town, says " being empowered by 
" Lord Cornwallis to raise a troop of Provincial light 
"dragoons, I have, for some time, wished to try 
" your Lt. Wilson as Captain, and this gentleman as 
"Lieutenant, (meaning Cornet Merrit,) they have 
" been both recommended as good and active offi- 
" cers, and, if you agree with me in opinion that a 



248 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

" troop could be raised in or near George Town, I 
" should have no hesitation in making the appoint- 
" ment." Thus I have mentioned to you a few of the 
many meritorious services performed by the officers 
and men of my troop, when in Virginia and South 
Carolina. I regret much at my not having kept a 
journal during that time, as it would now enable me 
to do more ample justice to those whose zeal, bravery, 
and good conduct, entitle them to my fullest and fair- 
est report." 

It is to be lamented that Capt. Saunders did not 
keep a regular journal, as it would have related a se- 
ries of gallant and active services, which he performed 
when in the command at George Town, and after- 
wards at Dorchester, and which strongly characterize 
in that officer the same boldness and prudence with 
which he maintained himself with his small party in 
his native country, where his decisive character had 
its due weight and superiority. 

On the 12th of August the Rangers passed to Glou- 
cester, to cover the foraging in front of that post, 
which the 80th and the Hessian regiment of Prince 
Hereditaire garrisoned, under the command of Lieut. 
Col. Dundas. The climate, the sickly state and con- 
dition of the corps, as more fully detailed in the ap- 
pendix, and what was reasonably to be apprehended 
from the militia of the enemy, now assembling in num- 
bers, rendered this a service of great fatigue and dan- 
ger : the troops were generally employed on it twelve 
hours in the twenty-four. The infantry, to secure 
them from the intense heat, were ambuscaded as much 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 249 

as possible in the woods, and the cavalry patroled in 
their front, or on their flanks. Lt. Col. Simcoe, on 
his return one day from Abington church, was inform- 
ed that Weeks, now stiled Major, with a party of the 
enemy, had just arrived .within a few miles : he in- 
stantly pressed on with the cavalry to attack him, or- 
dering Capt. Ewald to proceed to his support as fast 
as possible with the Yagers and infantry. On his ar- 
rival near the post, he had the good fortune to push 
a patrole, which came from it, so rapidly as to follow 
it into the house where Weeks lay, who, with his 
men, escaped in great confusion into the woods, leav- 
ing their dinner behind them : an officer and some 
men were made prisoners, and this check, together 
with the country being constantly ambuscaded, pre- 
vented the foragers from receiving the least interrup- 
tion. 

One morning as the foragers were at some distance 
from Gloucester, they were surprised at hearing a 
considerable firing of musketry, between them and 
the garrison : it was suspected that some party of the 
enemy might have stolen through the woods ; but on 
a detachment falling back to procure certain intelli- 
gence, it appeared, that some men on a predatory 
party had landed from the shipping, and, being pan- 
ick-struck, had fired at a wood where they fancied 
they saw the enemy. Serjeant Ritchie, of the gren- 
adiers of the Rangers, who with the other convales- 
cents had been left in the camp at Gloucester, on 
hearing the firing, supposed that the regiment was 
engaged, and assembling such men as were able to 
*20 



250 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

move, to the amount of thirty or more, he marched 
forward, and took up a piece of ground that would 
have been highly advantageous in case of real action : 
so spirited were the soldiers, so able were the non- 
commissioned officers become, by perpetual service 
and experience ! 

On the 31st of August, the advance ships of the 
French fleet blocked up the York river. The caval- 
ry of the Queen's Rangers had been regularly in- 
structed in wheeling and forming in the closest order 
possible, and they were disciplined in every thing that 
might enable them to maintain that superiority which 
they had hitherto acquired over all their opponents. 
It being of the utmost consequence to prevent the 
enemy gaining any information from deserters, the 
out sentries were constantly composed of a cavalry 
and infantry man. Earl Cornwallis, in a conversa- 
tion with Lieut. Col. Simcoe, asked him whether " he 
" thought that he could escape with the cavalry ;" he 
answered his Lordship, " Without the smallest doubt." 

Gen. Washington invested York Town on the 23d 
of September ; when the blockade of Gloucester was 
formed by one thousand one hundred French troops, 
joined with the rebel militia, under the command of 
Mons. de Choisy so well known for his surprisal of 
Cracow. Captain Shank, with thirty huzzars, re- 
treated before them as they advanced, and close to 
the Duke of Lauzun's legion. The French ships 
that blocked the mouth of York river were driven 
from their station, and narrowly escaped being de- 
stroyed by fire-ships, commanded by Capt. Palmer of 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 251 

the navy : this gallant officer would have probably 
burnt a man of war which was driven ashore, but he 
was prevented by the misbehaviour of a master of a 
privateer, who, as might be expected from people of 
his vile trade, prematurely set on fire one of the small 
vessels which he had volunteered the direction of and 
which were to accompany the King's ship, at such a 
distance as could neither endanger the enemy, or him- 
self. The out piquet which the Queen's Rangers oc- 
cupied was on a high bank on the left, close to the 
York river, which in front was almost inaccessible 
from a cove into which the tide flowed : this post was 
maintained at night on the commencement of the 
blockade ; but it was soon attempted to be carried 
oft'. Captain Shaw, who commanded, overheard the 
enemy on their approach, and withdrawing his senti- 
nels and party to a bank in its rear, let them without 
molestation possess themselves of his fires, when, 
giving them an unexpected discharge, they fled in 
great confusion, and with every appearance of several 
of them being wounded, leaving fire-arms, caps, and 
accoutrements behind them. Captain Shaw then re- 
sumed his post, which was constantly occupied in the 
day, and frequently at night, without any further at- 
tempt being made upon it. The health of Lieut. Col. 
Simcoe began now totally to fail under the incessant 
fatigues, both of body and mind, which for years he 
had undergone. Lt. Col. Tarleton with his cavalry 
passed over from York to Gloucester. Lt. Col. Sim- 
coe observed, in conversation with Col. Dundas, that 
as Capt. Shank had faced the Duke of Lauzun with 



252 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

the cavalry of the Rangers the preceding day, it was 
probable the Duke would not hesitate to attack them, 
being acquainted with the inferiority of their numbers, 
when, if Lt. Col. Tarleton's corps, of whose arrival 
he must be ignorant, should be placed in ambuscade, 
the Duke's legion might be swept off and totally ruin- 
ed. Lt. Col. Tarleton marched out with the cavalry 
the next morning, Col. Dundas accompanying him ; 
and about midday firing was heard, and some people 
gallopped in in great confusion : one of the forage- 
masters saying Col. Tarleton was defeated, Lt. Col. 
Simcoe sent him to Earl Cornwallis, ordered the 
troops to their post, and, being carried from his bed 
to his horse, went himself to the redoubt occupied by 
the Rangers. Capt. Shank, on his return, reported 
to Lt. Col. Simcoe, that being on the left when the 
line was formed he had received no orders ; but when 
the right, composed of the legion, advanced to charge, 
he did the same, in close order, but necessarily not in 
equal front : on the legion giving way, the Rangers 
followed, quitting the field the last, and in such order 
as prevented a rapid pursuit, and returned to the 
charge with Lt. Col. Tarleton, when he, having again 
offered the enemy combat, which they declined, re- 
mained master of the field. Lt. Col. Dundas being 
ordered to York Town, Lt. Col. Simcoe, on whom 
the command of Gloucester devolved, was obliged 
from total want of health, to give up its duties to Lt. 
Col. Tarleton. The most disagreeable that could be- 
fall an officer now drew nigh: the works at York 
Town were rendered untenable by the superior fire of 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 253 

the French artillery, and Earl Cornwallis determined 
to attempt to escape with the best part of his troops 
by the way of Gloucester : a principal part of his 
force was sent over to that place, and Lt. Col. Simcoe 
was informed that his Lordship meant to attack Mons. 
de Choisy the next morning. There was every pro- 
bability of surprising that officer, as he in some mea- 
sure depended upon the vigilance of the militia joined 
with him ; and a spy, who came into Gloucester al- 
most to the very day of its surrender, could have 
conducted the Queen's Rangers by the secret path 
which he made use of, to the rear of the enemy's 
post. It was not improbable that his Lordship, on 
viewing the advantageous position which might be 
occupied in front of Gloucester, would have been of 
opinion that the post might at the least have been de- 
fended for ten days, if the provisions would last, 
against any force the enemy could combine to attack 
it within that period. A violent storm arising, pre- 
vented the succeeding division of the garrison of 
York from passing over ; that which had arrived re- 
turned early in the morning, and the firing soon after 
ceasing, it was understood that Earl Cornwallis had 
proposed a cessation of hostilities, for the purpose of 
settling the terms on which the posts of York and 
Gloucester were to be surrendered. On the first con- 
firmation of this supposition, Lt. Col. Simcoe sent Lt. 
Spencer to his Lordship, to request that as his corps 
consisted of loyalists, the objects of the enemy's civil 
persecution, and deserters, if the treaty was not final- 
ly concluded, that he would permit him to endeavour 



254 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

to escape with them in some of those boats which 
Gen. Arnold had built ; and that his intention was to 
cross the Chesapeake and land in Maryland, when, 
from his knowledge of the inhabitants of the country 
and other favourable circumstances, he made no doubt 
of being able to save the greatest part of the corps 
and carry them into New-York. His Lordship was 
pleased to express himself favourably in regard to 
the scheme, but said he could not permit it to be un- 
dertaken, for that the whole of the army must share 
one fate. The capitulation was signed on the 19th of 
October. Earl Cornwallis, on account of Lieut. Col. 
Simcoe's dangerous state of health, permitted him to 
sail for New- York in the Bonetta, which by an arti- 
cle in the capitulation was to be left at his disposal, a 
sea-voyage being the only chance, in the opinion of 
the physicians, by which he could save his life. On 
board of this vessel sailed as many of the Rangers, 
and of other corps, deserters from the enemy, as she 
could possibly hold ; they were to be exchanged as 
prisoners of war, and the remainder of Earl Corn- 
wallis's army were marched prisoners into the coun- 
try. Lt. Col. Simcoe, on his arrival at New- York, 
was permitted by Sir Henry Clinton to return to 
England ; and his Majesty, on the 19th December, 
1781, was graciously pleased to confer upon him the 
rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the army, the duties 
and title of which he had enjoyed from the year 1777, 
and which had been made permanent to him in Amer- 
ica in 1779. Capt. Saunders arriving from Charles 
Town, took the command of that part of the corps 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 255 

which had come to New- York in the Bonetta. Many 
of the soldiers, who were prisoners in the country, 
were seized as deserters from Mr. Washington's army, 
several enlisted in it to facilitate their escape, and, 
being caught in the attempt, were executed : a greater 
number got safe to New- York, and, had the war con- 
tinued, there was little doubt but the corps would have 
been re-assembled in detail. The Rangers were so 
daring and active in their attempts to escape, that, 
latterly, they were confined in gaol ; Capt. Whitlock, 
who commanded them while prisoners in the country, 
was one of the Captains who drew lots with Captain 
Asgil to suffer for Huddy's death. 

Capt. Saunders, and the officers who were with him, 
had to experience severe mortifications : Sir Henry 
Clinton, the Commander in Chief, who knew their 
services, had returned to England, and was succeeded 
by Sir Guy Carleton. It being apparent that the 
American war was to be abandoned, they had no 
longer the certainty of recommending themselves by 
their services to the protection of the new General. 
On the 31st of March, 1783, the following order was 
transmitted from the Adjutant-General's Office, to 
the officer who commanded the regiment: as it is 
presumed to be a singular event in military history, it 
is here published, verbatim, and with no other com- 
ment than that which accompanied it as it was trans- 
mitted to Lt. Col. Sirncoe, then in England : 

"Adjt. Gem Office, March 31, 1783. 

" Sir — Lt. Col. Thompson having received orders to 
complete the regiment under his command by volun- 



256 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

teers from the different Provincial corps, and to raise 
in like manner four additional companies of light in- 
fantry, for a particular service ; the Commander in 
Chief desires you would give all possible assistance 
to Lt. Col. Thompson and those concerned with him 
in the execution of this business, by encouraging the 
men belonging to the corps under your command to 
engage in this service, and his Excellency directs me 
to assure you that neither the officers nor others who 
may remain with you in the corps shall suffer any 
loss or any injury to their pretensions by the diminu- 
tion of your numbers arising from the volunteers who 
may join the corps under the command of Lieut. Col. 
Thompson. It is to be understood, that though the 
men wanted for this service are to engage as soon as 
possible, yet they are not to quit the regiments to 
which they at present belong, till further orders. 
(Signed) Ol. DELANCY, &c." 

" I will only say that though as military men they 
could not publicly reprobate and counteract this un- 
just, humiliating, and disgraceful order, yet conscious 
of their superiority both in rank, in life, and in milita- 
ry service to the person whom it was meant to ag- 
grandise, they could not but sensibly feel it. I am 
sorry to say that some of the Rangers, being made 
drunk, were induced to volunteer it. The arrival of 
the last packet, as it took away the pretence of their 
being for ' some particular service,' has put a total 
stop to this business, The warrant, I am told, speci- 
fied that when this corps was completed and embark- 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 257 

ed, they were from that time to be on the British 
establishment." 

The officers of the Queen's Rangers had prided 
themselves, and justly, in preventing, as much as offi- 
cers by precept, example, and authority could do, 
plundering and marauding : being cantoned with other 
corps on Long Island, the depredations which were 
committed, drew upon the Queen's Rangers the dis- 
pleasure of Sir Guy Carleton, and the denunciation 
of his precluding the officers from their just promo- 
tion. Capt. Saunders, who then commanded them, 
conscious that they were innocent, as became his 
character and station, addressed the following letter 
to the Commander in Chief: 

" Sir, — I take the liberty, as commanding officer of 
that part of the Queen's Rangers at Huntingdon, to ad- 
dress your Excellency : a letter received from Col. de 
Wurmb, containing your very severe reprehension of 
their conduct, in consequence of representations made 
to your Excellency of their frequent depredations, is 
the cause. Myself and officers, conscious of the 
falsehood and malevolence of those representations, 
feel ourselves highly injured, and as the charge mate- 
rially affects the honour and reputation of the corps, 
we hope and request that your Excellency will be 
pleased to order an enquiry into this matter, so that 
we may have an opportunity of meeting our accusers 
face to face, and of removing from your Excellency's 
breast the impression that has been made so disad- 
vantageous to us." 
21 



258 JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONS 

No answer was returned to this application, and a 
very young officer who had not seen any service, was 
promoted from another corps to a troop vacant in the 
Queen's Rangers. Soon after the above-mentioned 
letter was written it was proved before a court mar- 
tial, that those depredations, which had drawn down 
upon the Rangers the Commander in Chief's indigna- 
tion, had been committed by men of the legion and 
for which they suffered. Every thing now tended to 
the American colonies being declared independent of 
Great Britain, and the officers of the Queen's Rang- 
ers seem to have been oppressed with every circum- 
stance that could wound the hearts of men who were 
soldiers on the best principles, except the conscious- 
ness of not having deserved it ; but this cloud was 
soon to pass away. General Conway was Comman- 
der in Chief of his Majesty's forces, and Sir H. Clin- 
ton had arrived in England ; Sir Charles Grey was 
appointed to succeed Sir Guy Carleton, Lieut. Col. 
Simcoe, whose exchange Government had procured 
from Dr. Franklin, was to have accompanied him as 
secretary to his commission, a post that he hoped to 
fill to the approbation of that General, who was ready, 
had it been necessary, to have supported those claims 
of the Queen's Rangers for British rank and establish- 
ment, which Sir H. Clinton had personally recom- 
mended to the protection of General Conway, and 
this he had done in the strongest manner, not only as 
due to the fidelity and actions of a corps which he 
had been an eye-witness of, but " in justice to his 
" country," as he was pleased to express himself, " that, 



OF THE QUEEN'S RANGERS. 259 

" in case of future war, it might not be deprived of 
" the services of such a number of excellent officers." 
These representations had their due effect, and on 
the 25th of December, 1782, his Majesty was gra- 
ciously pleased to make that rank universally perma- 
nent which they had hitherto only held in the scene 
of action, America ; — and the Queen's Rangers, 
cavalry and infantry, were honourably enrolled in the 
British army. The corps was disbanded at the en- 
suing peace, and many of the officers, and most of 
the soldiers, settled on the lands to which they had a 
claim in Nova Scotia. 

Thus conclude the principal events in a journal of 
a corps of light troops, whose services can best be 
estimated by observing, that for years in the field, to 
use the language of a former age, they were the for- 
lorn of the armies in which they served, and that even in 
winter quarters, when in common wars troops are per- 
mitted to seek repose, few hours can be selected in 
which the Queen's Rangers had not to guard against 
the attacks of a skilful and enterprising enemy. 



END OF THE JOURNAL. 



APPENDIX 



AN APPENDIX IS ADDED OF SUCH LETTERS, PAPERS, AND OBSERVATIONS, AS ARE NE- 
CESSARY TO ILLUSTRATE THIS JOURNAL. 



Page 60. When Sir William Howe quitted the command of 
the army, Major Simcoe laid the following memorial before 
him, which he promised to support on his return to England. 

To his Excellency General Sir William Howe, Commander 
in Chief, &c. &c. 

The Memorial of the Major Commandant, Captains, and 
Subalterns, of His Majesty's Provincial Corps of Queen's 
Rangers. 

" Your Memorialists, with all submission and respect, beg 
leave to entreat your Excellency will lay them at his Maj- 
esty's feet, humbly soliciting that he, in his gracious favour, 
will be pleased to establish them in the rank of the army, 
as has been given to the regiments now raising in Great 
Britain. 

"The generality of the officers, who now request your 
Excellency's countenance, at the breaking out of the pres- 
ent rebellion, left their estates and settlements in Virginia, 
joined his Excellency Lord Dunmore, and underwent with 
him all the vicissitudes of service, till his junction with the 
army at Staten Island. The Queen's Rangers being intend- 
ed for active employ, your Excellency was pleased to appoint 
your Memorialists, on account of their being more experi- 
enced in actual service, to supercede the generality of those 
who were its officers : how far your Excellency's favoura- 
ble opinion of them has been justified, the subsequent be- 
haviour of the corps in the Jersies, at the battle of Brandy- 
21* 



262 APPENDIX. 

wine, and during a variety of fatiguing and detail services 
on which they have been employed in the course of the late 
winter, must testify. 

" Attached to his Majesty and the cause of their country, 
from the purest motives, habituated to the fatigues of war, 
and ambitious of exerting themselves in it, confident that 
the men they command are disciplined equal to the impor- 
tant service of the light troops with whom they have con- 
stantly served, and conscious that, should they obtain their 
desired rank, their conduct will neither disgrace it as Gentle- 
men and as Officers ; your Memorialists humbly hope that 
your Excellency will patronize their request, and that your 
intercession will induce his Majesty to look favourably on 
their petition, and to mark his approbation of their services 
by conferring on them the honour of enrolling with the army." 

Page 73, line 27. Soon after, fyc. fyc. 

Lt. Col, Simcoe had detailed his plan in readiness to lay 
it before Sir Henry Clinton. The mode he meant to propose 
to effect his junction with the Indians was, to be landed at 
night, privately, at a point called the Roundabouts, on the 
Raritan river, and to continue his march as rapidly and se- 
cretly as possible to Easton on the Delaware : at the same 
time a corps should proceed to Brunswick, under the pretext 
of foraging, but in reality to mask the design, and to cover 
the march from the troops which the enemy had at Elizabeth 
Town, their only corps in the Jersies, under General Max- 
well. Lt. Col. Simcoe would have joined the Indians, prob- 
ably in three days ; and long before General Sullivan's ex- 
pedition against them. 

Page 87, line 4. Lt. Col. Simcoe received the following letter 
from Col. Wurmb, commanding the Yagers. 

" Monsieur, — J'enverrai apres un heure Le Major 
Bruschank et 200 hommes vers Phillips' house, et vers la 
pointe du jour le Capit: Wreden avec 100 hommes fur 



APPENDIX. 263 

Courtland's Ridge, qui couvrera votre Gauche et notre 
droite ; sitot que vous attaquez les Chasseurs passeront le 
pont et marcheront sur la Hauteur de la Maison, de la Veuve 
Babcock. Si vous vous retirez faites les avertir par une 
Patrouille. J'ai 1' honneur d'etre, &c. 

A 7 1-2 le soir. " WURMB." 

Page 95, line 23. A general plan of defence was calculated 
for the whole. 

The general orders were : in case of alarm, the following 
are to be the posts of the different companies : — 

Captains M'Rae and Kerr's companies (supposed to be the 
right) to maintain their barrack, Capt. M'Rae's above and 
Capt. Kerr's below stairs. 

Capt. Dunlop's company to occupy the right hand sunken 
fleche, Capt. Saunders the left ; whichever of those compa- 
nies gains its post first, to be divided and occupy both fleches, 
till the arrival of the other : Captain Smith's to occupy the 
sunken work in front of the Artillery barrack. The huz- 
zars will be provided with arms, and are to gain the fleche 
on the left of Capt. Smith's, nor are they to think of their 
horses till ordered to get them by a field officer, or the senior 
officer within the second abatis, who commands the whole 
of the out- works and redoubt. 

Captains Stevenson and Shank's companies to retreat on 
the heights to the one tree Hill, and to act according to emer- 
gency, retreating from if attacked, recoiling on the enemy 
if they retreat, and falling on their rear if they attempt to 
force the redoubt. 

The grenadiers, the highlanders, and the piquet of caval- 
ry, to join the light infantry at their barracks. 

The guards to retreat and join the first company under 
arms ; if attacked to keep up a galling fire. 

All soldiers, whether officers' servants or others, whom 
their commanding officers permit to lie out of their bar- 



264 APPENDIX. 

racks, are to have their arms with them, and to join the first 
party under arms that they meet. The most profound si- 
lence to be kept, and the Lt. Colonel recommends it to the 
officers not to fire if possible ; but of the necessity they must 
judge themselves : whatever quarter is attacked, must be 
defended. The first officer that gets to his company, to 
march to its post. Every quarter will be fortified as soon 
as possible : every soldier must have his post in it : their 
arms must be arranged, and bayonets always fixed, and the 
doors barricaded ; when the barracks are finished, the com- 
manding officers must report to the Lt. Colonel, who will 
inspect them. The officer in the redoubt, in case from ne- 
cessity or intention the regiment shall not join him, must 
maintain his post. If he cannot keep the platforms, he is 
to dismount his cannon, and bring them into his guard-house, 
which he is to defend, unless attacked by cannon, with his 
life. 

The officers commanding companies will copy such orders 
as relate to themselves only, and inform their subalterns of 
them ; and it is their duty to ask for an explanation of such 
parts as they do not perfectly understand, both in this and 
all other situations : — no soldier, or non-commissioned offi- 
cer, to be acquainted with these orders. 

Page 117, line 3. His imprisonment, Sf-c. fyc. 

Lt. Col. Simcoe had many providential escapes. Mar- 
rener prevented a boy from bayoneting him, as he lay sense- 
less on the ground, saying " let him alone the rascal is dead 
" enough ;" and another person regretted that he had not 
shot him through the head, which he would have done had 
he known him to be a Colonel, but he thought " all Colonels 
" wore lace." The sensations which he felt as he gradually 
awakened into recollection, ancl heard distant shouts and 
scattered firing, and saw what hands he had fallen into ; 
and, when recovering more perfectly, his situation, and all 
his professional hopes rushed at once upon his mind, are 



APPENDIX. 265 

better felt than described. He had other dangers to sur- 
mount, the populace were driven to fury by the death of 
Capt. Vorhees ; and he was shown a letter from a field offi> 
cer of the Jersey militia, in which was the following para- 
graph : " It was intended to bring Col. Simcoe to Captain 
" Vorhees' grave, to show him the cruelty of his people, but 
" I could not answer it." The soldiers, who had been taken, 
were with difficulty preserved by Mr. Clarkson, Mr. Morris 
(who bled Lt. Col. Simcoe) and other gentlemen, from as- 
sassination: and Governor Livingston, after making "a 
" little harangue," as he termed it, to the populace, thought 
it necessary to give to Lt. Col. Simcoe the following written 
protection : 

" The Governor being informed, that some people have a 
design to abuse and insult Lt. Colonel Simcoe, a British cap- 
tive, and wounded in a skirmish that happened this day, 
between our militia and the British horse : though the Go- 
vernor is not inclined to believe a report that would infer so 
great a disgrace upon the people of this state, as that of the 
least inclination of revenge against a wounded enemy in our 
power ; yet to prevent the execution of any such attempt, it 
is his express orders to treat the said officer according to the 
rules of war, known and practised among all civilised na- 
tions ; and as it is his desire to be carried to Brunswick, it 
is his further orders, that no molestation be given to him in 
his being carried thither, and that, while there, he be treat- 
ed with that humanity which the United States of America 
have always observed towards their prisoners. 

"WILLIAM LIVINGSTON. 

"Brunswick Landing, 2d Oct. 1779. 

" N. B. Mr. Alexander Kellock having come with a flag, 
as a surgeon, to take care of Colonel Simcoe and a Serjeant, 
and also Edward Heifernon, his servant, are to attend him 
unmolested. "WILLIAM LIVINGSTON." 



266 APPENDIX. 

It would be unjust not to mention that some people of 
Brunswick, to whom Lt. Col. Simcoe, when Captain of gre- 
nadiers, had it in his power to be of service, remembered 
the protection, and in arms volunteered to assist Major Na- 
vius in preserving him from insult. It is with great pleasure 
Lt. Col. Simcoe has preserved the following letter, which he 
received from Lt. Wilson : 

"Richmond, Oct. 28, 1779. i 

" Yesterday, and part of the day before, there was nothing 
but the picture of distress in every countenance ; but this 
morning the soldiers are shouting " the father of the Rang- 
" ers is alive :" in short, nothing can exceed the joy which 
appears in the countenance of officers and soldiers, and 
prayers for your speedy recovery ; but none can possibly be 
more sincere than those of, &c. " J. WILSON." 

On the 28th Lt. Col. Simcoe was removed on parole to 
Borden Town, to a tavern kept by Col. Hoogland of the Jer- 
sey militia, by whom he was treated with great civility. 
The principal people of Borden Town were very violent, in 
particular Messrs. Borden and Kirkbride. Lt. Col. Simcoe, 
in the son of the former, recollected the officer whose life, 
as mentioned in the 50th page, line 27, he had probably 
saved ; and the circumstances were so well known that the 
fact was acknowledged ; but this did not contribute to les- 
sen the illiberal treatment he met with, and the umbrage 
which the inhabitants took at seeing him and Mr. Kellock 
walk about was such, that he soon confined himself to the 
house. 

Col. Lee had written to offer Lt. Col. Simcoe pecuniary 
assistance ; as Lt. Campbell, of the 74th regiment, who was 
on parole at Prince Town, had kindly supplied him, he had 
declined the acceptance of Col. Lee's civility. 

There were many reports spread of Lt. Col. Simcoe's cru- 
elties ; and some rebel justices were anxious for affidavits 
to support them; but the direct contrary was the case; 



APPENDIX. 267 

many of their party in Pennsylvania offering to give ample 
testimony of Lt. Col. Simcoe's humanity, and speaking most 
favourably of his conduct, while in that province. 

On the 6th of November he received the following letter 
from Col. Lee : 

" Monmouth, 6th Nov. 1779. 

" Sir, — I am happy to hear by your polite reply, to an offer 
dictated by the feelings of man for man, that you had al- 
ready been supplied in cash by the friendship of a brother 
officer ; should you hereafter stand in need of that article, 
I assure myself, you will not suffer your want to continue 
long. From some insinuations I have heard, and from a 
paragraph in the last Trenton Gazette, I apprehend your 
local situation not the most agreeable : — perhaps you may 
wish a remove ; of course must address the Governor ; be- 
ing employed in a similar line by our respective Generals ; 
it may not be amiss to appeal to me, should his Excellency 
require contradiction to the reports propagated prejudicial 
to your character. I am a stranger to what officer the bar- 
barities exercised on some captured militia in Bucks coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, can be truly attributed. I have never 
heard yourself declared as the author, and am led to believe 
you was not present : the unhappy sacrifice of Captain 
Vorhees in the late enterprise, I am told, took place after 
you fell. 

" Your treatment of one of my dragoons, who fell into 
your hands last campaign, was truly generous, and then 
made an impression on my mind which it still retains. 
Anxious to prevent injustice being done to the unfortu- 
nate, I have been particular in this letter, though I please 
myself in presuming that it will be unnecessary. Your 
most obedient humble servant " H. LEE, Jun." 

Lt. Col. Simcoe made his acknowledgments to Col. Lee, 
and in regard to the affair at the Billet, informed him, that 
he planned the attack on General Lacy ; but that no cruel- 



268 APPENDIX. 

ties whatever were committed by the Queen's Rangers. 
On the 7th of November, Governor Livingston came to 
Borden Town ; from his conversation Lt. Col. Simcoe had 
hopes of an immediate exchange : he was therefore much 
surprised the next evening, on the arrival of a militia party 
conducting Col. Billop of the Loyal militia of Staten Island, 
to be accosted by the Serjeant who commanded it, and in- 
formed that he was a prisoner, and must be confined, and 
marched the next morning to Burlington jail. Col. Hoog- 
land with great humanity interfered, and, upon their paroles, 
carried Cols. Billop and Simcoe in his own light waggon to 
Burlington the next morning. Mr. Kellock, who accompanied 
them thither, returned, as he must have also been confined, 
which Lt. Col. Simcoe by no means would permit. Lt. Col. 
Simcoe, his servant and M'Gill, who had come from "Staten 
Island, were confined, and no person was admitted to speak 
to them. Col. Billop was treated as the following mittimus 
directed, and received at the same time a letter from Boudi- 
not, the Commissary of Prisoners. 

" To the Keeper of the Common Jail for the county of Bur- 
lington. Greeting. 

" You are hereby commanded to receive into your cus- 
tody, the body of Col. Christopher Billop, prisoner of war, 
herewith delivered to you, and having put irons on his hands 
and feet, you are to chain him down to the floor in a close 
room, in the said jail ; and there so detain him, giving him 
bread and water only for his food, until you receive further 
orders from me, or the commissary of Prisoners for the State 
of New Jersey, for the time being. Given under my hand 
at Elizabeth Town, this 6th day of Nov. 1779. 

" ELISHA BOUDINOT, Com. Pris. New Jersey." 

" Sir, — Sorry I am that I have been put under the disagree- 
able necessity of a treatment towards your person that will 
prove so irksome to you ; but retaliation is directed, and it 



APPENDIX. 269 

will, I most sincerely hope, be in your power to relieve your- 
self from the situation by writing to New York, to procure 
the relaxation of the sufferings of John Leshier, and Capt. 
Nathaniel Randal. It seems, nothing short of retaliation 
will teach Britons to act like men of humanity. 

" I am, sir, your most humble servant, 

" ELISHA BOUDINOT, Com. S. Pris. 
"Elizabeth Town, Nov. 6, 1779. 
" Col. Christopher Billop, Burlington." 

John Leshier had murdered a Loyalist, whom he had 
waylaid, and, in the room of being instantly executed as a 
murderer, and as he deserved, was confined in irons. Nathan- 
iel Randal was the skipper of a vessel, being a private militia 
man he was not permitted his parole, which indulgence is 
only extended to officers. Col. Billop, who was to retaliate 
for these people, was a gentleman of most excellent char- 
acter, and considerable property ; who, in the House of As- 
sembly, where he had a seat, had uniformly opposed those 
measures which led to a rupture with Great Britain ; and, 
on the breaking out of the war, had accepted of the com- 
mission of Colonel of the Staten Island militia : so that 
nothing could possibly suggest to Boudinot the reflection he 
made on the national humanity, but that he could do it with 
impunity ; and that it did not misbecome his birth and extrac- 
tion, being the son of a low Frenchman, who kept an ale-house 
at Prince Town. His brother has been President of Congress. 

There were two soldiers of the guards in Burlington jail, 
they had been taken prisoners in Pennsylvania, and confined 
in Fort Frederick, from whence they had made their escape ; 
but being re-taken, were imprisoned. They had no provi- 
sions allowed them, but depended upon the precarious char- 
ity of a few friends for subsistence. Lt. Col. Simcoe rep- 
resented their situation to the sheriff, which their emaciated 
appearance fully confirmed; in consequence, they were 
shortly after removed from Burlington. 
22 



270 APPENDIX. 

Col. Lee still continued his generous attention ; and to 
the utmost of his power supported the request which Lt. 
Col. Simcoe had made, to be permitted to go on parole to 
Staten Island, as the following letter will evince. 

Monmouth, 14th Nov. 1779. 

" Sir, — I have received an answer from Gov. Livingston, 
to my letter of request, in your behalf. I was very partic- 
ular in my address, and, although I cannot congratulate 
myself on its full success, I flatter myself it will lead to the 
completion of your wishes. The following is an extract 
from the Governor's letter : — " Col. Simcoe's treatment by 
this state is not founded on his character. We think it our 
indispensable duty to retaliate the enemy's severity to some 
of our citizens in New York; but that such treatment 
should, however, happen to be exercised on a person of 
whom you entertain so favourable an opinion, (besides the 
disagreeableness of such measures at any time,) is particu- 
larly afflictive to, &c. &c. &c." 

" From the above declaration I presume, that your parole 
may be procured, in a few days, if any expection can be 
held out to the executive power of the State, tending to a 
liberation of any one of her citizens in New York. 

" Perhaps your presence with Sir Henry Clinton might 
affect an alteration in the measures complained of, and a 
system of perfect liberality might be established in future : 
if you will permit me to declare your determination on this 
point, and, if it answers my expectation, I will do myself 
the pleasure of waiting on the Governor in person, to at- 
tempt the full settlement of the unhappy business. I have, 
as yet, no reply from Mr. Boudinot, though his station does 
not promise much service, and therefore his opinion will be 
very unimportant. I have the honour to be, &c. 

H. LEE, Jun." 

Lt. Col. Simcoe answered Col. Lee's letter, and in that 
part which referred to the liberation of Randal, or Fitzran- 



APPENDIX. 271 

dolph, he assured Col. Lee, " that if that person had acted 
without a commission, as it was reported, and his opinion 
was asked by Sir Henry Clinton, it would be immediately 
to execute him, though he, on his return from Staten Island, 
should suffer the same fate by a retaliation, to use the Gov- 
ernor's phrase." 

Gov. Livingston gave the following answer to Lt. Col. 
Simcoe's letter, demanding to know what persons would be 
received in exchange for him, and requesting his parole to 
Staten Island. 

Mount Holly, Nov. 10th, 1779. 

Sm, — I have received your letter, without date. Your 
confinement, and the order relative to Col. Billop, is in con- 
sequence of the advice of the Privy Council ; till they re- 
scind their resolve, I am not at liberty to deviate from it ; I 
hope, however, that you will not be disagreeably situated, 
except as to the confinement. The exchange proposed for 
you and Col. Billop (which is Col. Reynolds, Mr. Fitzran- 
dolph, Leshier, and Jackson, and as many other privates as 
will make it equal) has, I suppose, before this time reached 
New York. If you are not soon released, it will be the fault of 
the British. For my part, I heartily wish it may be effected 
in the speediest manner, and not only for the sake of our citi- 
zens in captivity at New York, but also from sentiments of 
humanity towards Col. Billop and yourself, as I am not grati- 
fied by the sufferings of any man ; and I am sure the Gov- 
ernor does not, and fully pursuaded the Council domot har- 
bour any personal resentment against Col. Billop. Unfor- 
tunately for that gentleman, the treatment of some of our 
citizens in New York, has induced this State to consider re- 
taliation their indispensable duty, and it is his particular mis- 
fortune to be in our possesion at this melancholy juncture. 

" Respecting your request of going to Staten Island on 
your parole, I hope your exchange will be negotiated with- 



272 APPENDIX. 

out it ; and, for that purpose, any of your letters on that 
subject shall be cheerfully transmitted to New York, by 
" Sir, your humble servant, WILLIAM LIVINGSTON. 

" P. S. In answer to Dr. Kellock's letter, desiring to at- 
tend you as Surgeon, I have acquainted him that there is no 
objection, provided he consents to be confined with you. 

" Lt. Col. Simcoe of the Queen's Rangers." 

" Sir, — I have just now the honour of receiving your letter; 
I am sorry you will not permit me to go to Staten Island, 
to negociate mine and Col. Billop's exchange. 

" I shall embrace an opportunity of writing to New York ; 
but I must first beg to be acquainted, whether Mr. Randolph 
is or is not a Captain ? he being styled such in M. Bou- 
dinot's letter to Col. Billop. 

" I am also to beg, you will please to inform me for whom 
I am to retaliate, or for what I am confined 1 such usage be- 
ing most unprecedented. 

" As you are pleased to observe that no private resent- 
ment is harboured against Col. Billop, I wish to know 
whether there be any against me. 

" I should be happy to have an early answer, and am, sir, 
your humble servant, J. G. SIMCOE. 

"Burlington Goal, Nov. 10th, 1779. 

" P. S. I am not well acquainted with these matters, but 
I conceive the present proposition to be what last year Gen. 
"Washington refused to exchange Gen. Burgoyne's army on, 
when made by Sir Henry Clinton ; and I should be glad to 
know the ranks of those people, with the number of privates, 
necessary to complete them to Col. Billop's rank." 

"Mount Holly, 11th November, 1779. 
" Sir, — I have just now received your letter of yesterday's 
date. 






APPENDIX. 273 

" As the particular mode of exchanging American for 
British prisoners will, I presume, not be insisted upon by Sir 
Henry Clinton, in the present case ; I hope no difference 
about his Excellency Gen. Washington and him will retard 
the effect of the present proposition, and it was for that very 
reason, if I rightly apprehended you, that you preferred your 
being considered as a prisoner to this state. 

" Mr. Fitzrandolph is no officer in our militia, but, never- 
theless, of so respectable a character that we are universal- 
ly solicitous for his release ; and, though a gentleman of the 
strictest honour, has been treated with the greatest indignity 
by your superiors. 

"The rest of the persons proposed for exchange, save Col. 
Reynolds, are also privates. As to the additional number of 
privates necessary to make the exchange equal in consider- 
ation of your and Col. Billop's rank, it must be determined 
by military usage ; which it will be easy for the two Com- 
missaries to adjust, and no reasonable cause of obstruction 
will, I hope, originate from that source. 

" You also ask me for whom you are retaliated upon, and 
for what you are confined ? such usage being, as you are 
pleased to observe, most unprecedented. Considering, sir, 
that the confinement of our citizens, both officers and pri- 
vates, when prisoners with the enemy, has been as uniformly 
directed as if it had been a matter of course, it ought not to 
appear wonderful, should we adopt the same mode of treat- 
ment, even without any view to retaliate ; the precedent be- 
ing set by our adversaries without the least pretence on their 
part of retaliating upon us. But when such measures are 
ordered by us for the express and sole purpose of relieving 
our suffering subjects, the impartial world must approve, 
and humanity itself, from their tendency to procure milder 
treatment, in the final result, be constrained to applaud 
them. Superadd to this, your counteracting the express 
terms of your parole at Borden Town, (I would wish to be- 
lieve rather from your misconstruction than determinate de- 
22* 



274 APPENDIX. 

sign to violate it.) and your having been heard to say, that 
whenever you should apprehend yourself in danger of being 
insulted by the people, you should think yourself at liberty 
to effect your escape, (of which danger you doubtless in- 
tended to be judge,) not to mention that your present situa- 
tion is your best security against all popular violence, in 
case there were any grounds for such apprehension ; and, I 
doubt not, you will, on cooler reflection, find no reason to 
charge the step in question with any unnecessary severity. 

"To your question, whether private resentment is har- 
boured against you ? I answer, sir, that public bodies are 
not actuated by private resentment ; but the actions of in- 
dividuals of a public nature, such as cruelty to prisoners, 
may nevertheless properly occasion towards such individu- 
als a line of conduct, very different from what is observed 
towards those of an opposite character, and this, with as 
little colour for complaining of personal resentment as of 
the civil magistrates punishing a public offender ; but as no 
such charge has been proved, (though many have been al- 
leged against you,) I have no reason to think that such re- 
ports have influenced this Government in the measures hith- 
erto directed, concerning you. 

" The negotiating the exchange of prisoners being, by our 
law, entirely committed to the Commissary, (though the Go- 
vernor is authorised to superintend their treatment,) you 
will be pleased, sir, in your future correspondence on that 
subject to be referred to him ; I do not mean by this to dis- 
courage you from making any necessary application, to, sir, 
" your most humble servant, 

"WILLIAM LIVINGSTON." 

" Sir, — I must beg of you to forward the inclosed packet 
to Sir Henry Clinton. 

" I was pleased that I had fallen into the hands of the 
state of New Jersey, rather than into that of the Continen- 
tal army, solely from the reliance I had on the assurances 



APPENDIX. 275 

you gave me, that I probably should be exchanged in a few 
days, naming to me Colonels Reynolds or Hendrickson, as 
the likely persons. 

" I never heard of a Lt. Colonel's being taken from his 
parole, and confined in a common goal, because a private 
sentinel was imprisoned ; and am at a loss, in such treat- 
ment, to find the meaning of retaliation. 

" You cannot force yourself to believe, sir, that I ever har- 
boured a thought of violating my parole ; although the 
principle of honour be very imperfectly felt among common 
people, no man, even in that class, would break his word, or 
suspect that a British officer dare do it, were he not himself 
divested of all probity. 

" I conceived at Borden Town, that I was at liberty to 
walk in its environs, according to military usage, for my 
health : Col. Hoogland, whom I consulted, was of the same 
opinion ; I never exceeded a mile, and confined myself to 
my house when I found it was disagreeable. There being 
some difficulty in procuring a guard for my protection when 
at Rariton landing, I publicly told Major Navius, that if my 
life was attacked and I was not protected, I should think my- 
self at liberty to escape, in the propriety of which he acqui- 
esced : I never mentioned, sir, nor meant, in case I was in- 
sulted ; many insults I have met with, which, as they deserv- 
ed, I have treated with contempt. I should not have asked 
whether private resentment was harboured against me, had 
not you written, sir, that neither you or the council harbour- 
ed any personal resentment against Colonel Billop ; that 
gentleman's sufferings, and my own confinement, I must still 
conceive to be most severe and unprecedented. I am to ob- 
serve, sir, that I never complained of personal resentment ; 
I was far from thinking I had any reason to apprehend it ; 
but it is my duty to obtain as explicit reasons as you choose 
to give, for my superiors to judge why I am treated contra- 
ry to the laws of arms and humanity. 

" In regard to the newspaper, and popular fabrications of 



276 APPENDIX. 

cruelty alleged against me, I should treat them with con- 
tempt, had not you been pleased to take notice of them : 
such imputations, sir, will not fasten on me ; my character 
is not in the power of those who wish to injure it, and the 
most unexceptionable evidence is necessary to prove, that 
the characteristic of cowardice distinguishes my conduct. 
My employment gave me the cursory possession, the mo- 
mentary charge of prisoners ; and cruelty is contrary to my 
nature, my education, and my obedience to my orders. My 
private affairs calling me to Staten Island, my application 
was made to you, sir, on that consideration. 

" I still trust you will intercede to obtain me that permis- 
sion ; and, if I do not effect my exchange, I shall return to 
prison with the satisfaction of having settled my private 
business. " I have the honour to be, sir, &c. 

"J. G. SIMCOE." 

Lt. Col. Simcoe enclosed the correspondence he had held 
with Governor Livingston to Sir Henry Clinton in the fol- 
lowing letter, which was open and forwarded by the Gover- 
nor to New- York : 

" Sir, — Governor Livingston having promised me to for- 
ward to your Excellency my letters ; I take the earliest op- 
portunity of acquainting you with my late and present situ- 
ation. 

" The result of my incursion your Excellency is acquaint- 
ed with, and I have only to observe, that it was neither the 
valour of my enemies, or the least inattention of my party, 
that occasioned my being made a prisoner ; but it is to be 
attributed to the most uncommon and malicious fortune. 

" My life was preserved by the eagerness with which, as 
I have been informed, I was plundered when in a state of 
insensibility, and afterwards by the humanity of Mr. Morris. 

" A Capt. Vorhees was killed by the detachment in its re- 
turn, after I was taken ; his relations seemed to the Gover- 



APPENDIX. 277 

nor so determined to revenge his death by my destruction, 
that he gave me a written protection ; and afterwards di- 
rected Major Navius, who treated me with great humanity, 
personally to prevent any injuries that might be offered to 
me. I was removed to Borden Town on my parole, until the 
9th, when I was taken from it, and close confined in Bur- 
lington goal. 

" As my commitment expressed no reason for this treat- 
ment, I wrote to Governor Livingston on the subject, and 
enclose to your Excellency the correspondence. 

" I look upon my present situation as most particularly 
unfortunate. 

" My private affairs called for my greatest attention, and 
having procured your Excellency's leave, I had great pros- 
pect of success in them. 

" I trust, sir, that having obtained your recommendation 
near a twelve month since for promotion, you will still pat- 
ronise the application you then honoured with your appro- 
bation. 

" My fair fame has been struck at, and cruelty, the attri- 
bute of fear, has been imputed to me in the public prints, 
and industriously propagated by ignorant, designing, and 
cowardly people. 

" My honest ambition has been most severely disappoint- 
ed ; and I am doomed to pass the flower of my youth in a 
goal with criminals, when my state of health, affected by 
my fall, leads to an imbecility of mind, that will not permit 
to me the consolations resulting from my liberal education : 
yet, should I even be doomed obscurely to perish in the 
quicksand of deceit and calumny, with which I am now sur- 
rounded, it is my duty to expect, that no further ungenerous 
advantage may be permitted to the adversary, who, tramp- 
ling on the respect due to his own adherents, and presuming 
on the attention your Excellency may be inclined to pay to 
my situation, may think to offer, without impunity, some 
further insult to the British service, the liberal customs of 
war, and to the honour of my country. 



278 APPENDIX. 

" Of my proposed exchange you, sir, are the best judge. 

" Governor Livingston observed to me, that I was the 
more likely to be immediately exchanged by being a prison- 
er of the state of New Jersey, than if I had been taken by 
the Continental army. I acquiesced in his opinion ; not 
then conceiving how much the field officers, who fight un- 
der the banners of this state, are depreciated in its estimation. 

" There is one hope near, very near to my heart, which is, 
that your Excellency will patronise my corps, and employ it 
in the same line as if I was present ; its reputation would 
be the greatest comfort I could receive in a situation that ex- 
cludes me from participating in its danger and its glory. 

" Colonel Billop was confined, from his parole given to 
the Continental army, the same day with me ; and that most 
respectable and amiable gentleman suffers according to the 
enclosed mittimus ; — I subjoin to your Excellency his pa- 
role, and M. Boudinot's letter to him on his confinement. 

" For my own part, sir, I wish for no retaliation that may 
affect the rights which the custom of war allows to individu- 
als of rank, in order to soften the horrors of it. I am obliged 
to write at intervals ; or I should, before now, have sought 
an opportunity of transmitting an account of my situation 
to your Excellency, of wishing you every personal and pub- 
lic success you can desire, and of subscribing myself your 
most obedient, and most humble servant, 

"J. G. SIMCOE." 

In the preceding letter Lt. Col. Simcoe'made the fullest 
display possible of his miserable situation, purposely to give 
greater force to his contempt of all personal consequences. 
At this period he had been informed, by some friends who 
were anxious for his safety, that if Lt. Hele, of the navy, 
(who was then at Philadelphia a prisoner, in order to under- 
go whatsoever might befal Cunningham, imprisoned for pi- 
racy in England,) should die, and he was dangerously ill, Lt, 
Col. Simcoe was talked of by the rebels as a proper substi- 



APPENDIX. 279 

tute for that officer : and this information was, in some mea- 
sure, confirmed by the little attention which the Governor 
and Council paid to the pressing application of the friends 
of those officers of the Jersey militia, who were prisoners in 
New- York, and whose exchange was reasonably supposed 
to depend upon that of Colonels Billop and Simcoe. A few 
days after these letters had been forwarded to Sir Henry 
Clinton, Lt. Col. Simcoe was removed from the room he had 
hitherto inhabited, at midnight, into that of the felons : he 
then determined, in case of any intelligence of Cunning- 
ham's execution arriving at Philadelphia, instantly to make 
his escape ; and he had found means to have received the 
earliest notice of this event. There were many British sol- 
diers, prisoners of war, at work in the neighbourhood ; his 
idea was to get eight or ten of them to assemble at a given 
place ; M'Gill had already conferred with a Serjeant of the 
17th infantry, to whom the highest offers would have been 
held out in case of necessity. The carbines of Col. Lee's 
dragoons and their ammunition were in the goal ; — there 
was confined, a bold and daring man of the name of Blox- 
am ; he had been the armourer of one of his Majesty's ships. 
M'Gill got an impression of the key of the room where Lee's 
arms were, and, with the aid of Bloxam, a false one was 
made of pewter : with this, as soon as Lt. Col. Simcoe was 
let out of his room, the goaler one morning entrusting M'Gill 
with that office, being himself indisposed, they opened the 
armory, saw the carbines, and that they were fit for service, 
and locked the door, when the key broke in it. — These were 
the most anxious moments Lt. Col. Simcoe ever underwent ; 
if the goaler had come up stairs, it is probable Bloxam or 
M'Gill would have been executed ; and a party of Col. Lee's 
were every moment expected to visit the store-room ; Blox- 
am, with great ingenuity, cut the key, so that it dropped un- 
discovered into the lock ; and Col. Lee's people, on their ar- 
rival, found no difficulty in opening it. Another key was 
made, and the escape was determined on, and probably 



280 APPENDIX. 

would have taken place if necessary : the plan was to sur- 
prise a party of Col. Lee's, who lay about ten miles off, 
and to take their horses and proceed to Sandy Hook ; and 
this, it was hoped, might have been effected by stealth 
rather than violence. M'Gill offered to personate Lt. Col. 
Simcoe and remain behind in his bed, if it could facili- 
tate his escape. 

Lt. Col. Simcoe enclosed to Governor Livingston a letter 
he received from Major Andre, proposing his being admitted 
on his parole to New York, the same indulgence being grant- 
ed the rebel Colonel Baylor to Virginia ; Lt. Col. Simcoe in- 
formed the Governor that " he had received this proposal, 
" General Sir Henry Clinton supposing that he was on his 
" parole, and not knowing that he was treated as a crimi- 
" nal." To this Governor Livingston returned the following 
answer. 

Mount Holly, Nov. 29th, 1780. 

" Sir, — I received your letter without date last night ; this 
is the second time I have remarked that omission, what you 
mean by being used like a criminal, I am at a loss to deter- 
mine, if you refer to your imprisonment ; our own people 
have received similar treatment from the British in numer- 
ous instances ; Mr. Fitzrandolph, one of our citizens, who 
is proposed to be exchanged for you and Col. Billop, is at 
this very time used in the same manner, and is no more a 
criminal than any man that is not so. 

" If Sir Henry Clinton will agree to any exchange, I can- 
not see why he should object to the one proposed ; and, con- 
sidering that one of those we want to have liberated is in 
goal, and that the other has been chained to the floor for 
above four months, there is the highest reason for this State 
to insist upon it, if he is against all exchange whatsoever, 
to him, sir, you must ascribe the prolongation of your du- 
rance 

" That we consider your reputation with the British troops 



APPENDIX. 281 

and your intended voyage to Europe, as two circumstances 
that will probably expedite the relief of our suffering citi- 
zens, you will be pleased to impute (though you may regret, 
as I really do myself, your personal disappointment) to my 
fidelity to those for whose liberty it is my duty to be anxious. 
Considering that they, though for many months in captivity, 
have never been indulged to return home on parole to pro- 
cure their final release ; and that we cannot conceive, how 
your going to New York should facilitate General Clinton's 
acceding to our proposal, there is no probability of the 
Council's adopting that measure. I am, sir, your most hum- 
ble servant, WILLIAM LIVINGSTON." 

" Sir, — I have received your letter of the 29th of Novem- 
ber, and am to apologize to you for the unpolite, though ac- 
cidental omission, of my not dating the letter which it an- 
swers. 

" I conceive myself treated as a criminal ; the custom of 
civilized nations allows a parole of honour to officers, but 
not to private sentinels : as such Mr. Fitzrandolph's confine- 
ment is an usual matter, therefore it does not confer any 
disgrace or hardship upon him, but what was incident to 
his employment ; his station is allowed by yourself in the 
claim you make for mine and Col. Billop's release. 

" I do conceive, sir, that when it was proposed that Col. 
Billop and I should be exchanged for Lt. Col. Reynolds, and 
as many privates as make up the difference of rank between 
a Colonel and a private sentinel, that neither did you or the 
Council seriously imagine it could be accepted of. 

" I know of no officer in the British army who, consistent 
with his duty, could apply, or wish for, so disproportionate 
a mode of exchange ; the proposal is ungenerous to your 
prisoners, nor do I conceive that your own field officers, or 
those whom you rank equal with them, will consider it as 
intended to expedite their return from captivity. My state 
of health and expectations of returning to Europe, I pre- 
23 



282 APPENDIX. 

sumed might have some little weight with my enemy, if he 
was a generous one ; it. never entered into my thoughts, that 
these matters of mere private concern could be swollen into 
a public one, or becoming such, could be supposed in the 
least particular to influence my conduct. 

" The reputation, you are pleased to observe, that I have 
with the British troops, I hope you will do me the justice to 
believe, it has been my endeavour to acquire by doing my 
duty to the best of my power ; the principle of which is 
still the same, whether I am actively employed in the field, 
or suffering an ungenerous and unmerited confinement in 
prison. My going to New York would most certainly not 
in the least facilitate Sir Henry Clinton's acceding to a pro- 
posal, that was it in his power to agree to, it would never 
be in my inclination to solicit : the exchange I mentioned 
would, I thought, if accepted of, answer every purpose that 
you have held out as your intentions. 

" The indulgence of my parole to New York, is what has 
been extended to Cols. Reynolds, Potter, &c. your prisoners. 

" Agreeable to my duty I shall forward Major Andre's 
letter, and make application to General Washington. 

I have the honour to be your most obedient humble 
servant, J. G. SIMCOE. 

" As soon as I can find a proper convenience I shall, by 
your leave, send to procure winter clothing, wine, &c. from 
Staten Island, if I am not permitted to go there." 

Lt. Col. Simcoe had forwarded to Gov. Livingston a pro- 
posal for exchange of prisoners with the state of New Jer- 
sey, although all exchange between the British and Conti- 
nental troops was totally at a stand ; this proposal was 
formed on the usual principle of rank for rank, and kindly 
permitted by Sir Henry Clinton to expedite Lt. Col. Sim- 
coe's exchange. 

Lt. Col. Simcoe enclosed copies of the preceding letters 



APPENDIX. 283 

to Major Andre, and observed in a letter to him, " a few 
evenings ago I was taken from my bed, and moved into a 
room which had been occupied by felons for months, and 
placed among their filth, and closely locked up ; this was by 
order of Mr. Read, Secretary to the Council, and at a time 
when the Governor held out to me a prospect of exchange, 
which, till that moment, I did not suspect to be delusory." 

These letters were sent unsealed, to be forwarded by Gov. 
Livingston. 

The proposal Gov. Livingston alluded to, he knew had 
never been made ; in pursuance of his plan Lt. Col. Simcoe 
addressed himself to General Washington in the following 
letter, preparatory to an application which he meant, in case 
it should pass unnoticed, to prefer to the Congress. 

" To General Washington. 

" Sir, — I am induced to lay myself before you, from what 
I conceive to be a principle of duty, and that not merely per- 
sonal. 

" You may, perhaps, have heard, sir, of the uncommon 
fortune that threw me into the hands of the Jersey militia. 

" Gov. Livingston told me I was a prisoner of the State, 
a distinction I never till then was acquainted with, and ob- 
served, that it was probable I should be soon exchanged as 
such, naming to me officers of similar rank as the likely 
persons. 

" I was allowed my parole, was taken from it the 9th, and 
have ever since been confined a close prisoner in Burlington 
goal, with Col. Billop, who is in irons and chained to the 
floor, to retaliate for F. Randolph and Leshier, the latter of 
whom is (said to be) confined in the same manner in New- 
York : my mittimus hath not expressed what I am imprison- 
ed for ; but, by the tenor of Governor Livingston's letters, I 
suppose it is to retaliate for the former of those citizens, 
whom he allows to be a private soldier, and who is simply 
confined as such. 



284 



APPENDIX. 



" Colonel Billop joins me in my application, sir, to you for 
redress from our unparalleled usage. 

" I apply to you, sir, either as a prisoner of war, or as ap- 
pealing to you from an unjustifiable stretch, of power with- 
out precedent or generosity. 

" I am led to consider myself as a prisoner of war under 
your authority, from Governor Livingston's doubts expressed 
to me of his having the disposal of me ; from his corres- 
pondence with Gen. Robertson, published in the newspapers, 
where he submits Gen. Dickinson's prisoners to your dispo- 
sal, and from Col. Billop, my fellow prisoner, being taken by 
a party of Continental troops, receiving his parole from Mr. 
Beaty, and living under it, till he was taken from it by a 
party of militia, and by M. Boudinot's order confined in 
Burlington goal. 

" He claims the protection that was first extended to him 
from the Continental Commissary of prisoners. 

" I hope, sir, you will make use of the power that I con- 
ceive enabled you to transfer Col. Billop to the state of New 
Jersey, in extending to me the rights allowed by civilized 
nations, and which, without a given reason, I have been de- 
prived of. 

" If, by any law I am unacquainted with, I am in the pow- 
er and disposal of Governor Livingston, &c, I think myself 
entitled to appeal to you, sir, from the injustice used towards 
me, as I cannot suppose there is no application for redress 
in a case, which, if drawn into a precedent, must confound 
every distinction of rank, and will operate in a wider circle 
than that of the state of New Jersey. 

" Governor Livingston has offered, as he has written to 
me, to exchange me for Lt. Col. Reynolds, and Col. Billop 
for as many privates as make up his rank, naming among 
them the people for whom Col. Billop is avowedly retaliating. 

" This proposition, I conceive, it never was supposed Gen. 
Sir Henry Clinton could comply with. 

" I hope, sir, you will do me the honour of early attending 



APPENDIX. 285 

to this letter ; if Col. Billop only should be claimed by those 
whose prisoner he unquestionably appears to be, I should 
look upon it as a fortunate event, though I should be doomed 
to wear his ignominious chains. 

" I have the honour to be, sir, 

" Your most obedient and humble servant. 
"I beg leave to enclose to you Major Andre's letter, 
though Governor Livingston, to whom I addressed it, has 
passed it by without notice ; I hope it will be the means of 
my obtaining my parole to New-York." 

General Washington never answered this letter, but in a 
very few days Colonels Billop and Simcoe were exchanged ; 
and it is to be remarked, that soon after Congress passed an 
act, declaring that all prisoners whatsoever, whether taken 
by the Continental army or militia, should be absolutely at 
the disposal of their Commander in Chief; General Wash- 
ington, and not of the Governors of the different provinces. 
Col. Hendrickson, who was in the British Commissary's pro- 
posals to be exchanged for Col. Billop, and had his parole to 
give effect to it, arrived at Burlington on the 26th of De- 
cember, and brought the following letter from Boudinot to 
Lt. Col. Simcoe : 

"Elizabeth Town, 23d Dec. 1779. 

" Sir, — I am happy to inform you, that there is a proba- 
bility of your being released from your captivity. As your 
disagreeable confinement was owing entirely to the like 
treatment of a number of our field officers, prisoners in 
New York, I doubt not. you will endeavour to use that influ- 
ence which an officer of your abilities must undoubtedly 
have, to prevent the necessity of my executing orders so re- 
pugnant to my feelings as a man. 

" I am confident your delicacy will be extremely wounded 
at being called upon for security for the performance of 
your parole ; this, I assure you, is not because your honour 
23* 



286 APPENDIX. 

is at all questioned, but to follow a late cruel example in Col. 
Hendrickson ; perhaps when Mr. Loring sees the conse- 
quence of such conduct, he may be led to adopt a practice 
less destructive of every personal virtue. 

" I have the honour to be, &c. 

"E. BOUDINOT." 

M. Boudinot does not seem to have known the distinction 
of field officers, as none of this description were confined at 
New York ; Mr. Loring had insisted on security from Hend- 
rickson, because several of the American militia officers 
had broken their paroles. Lt. Col. Simcoe told Col. Hend- 
rickson that it was absurd to suppose he could break his pa- 
role in passing through the Jersies to Staten Island; but 
that he had no objection to find surety, provided he, Colonel 
Hendrickson, would be bound for him. This officer went to 
the Governor, and Lt. Col. Simcoe was emancipated on the 
27th of December from Burlington goal ; he was still ap- 
prehensive of being detained, as it was reported that the 
person, from whom the paper money had been taken, (as 
related in the 113th page.) had applied to the Governor to 
confine him till the money was returned, he having promis- 
ed to pay it at Brunswick. The promise of paying any 
debt, by the laws of New England, rendered the person 
who gave it liable for the payment ; but this custom had 
never prevailed in the Jersies. Lt. Col. Simcoe proceeded 
without molestation, and arrived at Richmond on the 31st : 
his arrival made a little triumph, and the testimonies of 
friendship and affection, which he received from his officers, 
soldiers, and the loyalists, compensated in a moment for all 
the anxiety which he had undergone. 

Many projects, he found, had been in agitation to rescue 
him from prison ; and, particularly, Lt. Wilson had, by the 
assistance of some loyalists of New Jersey, digested one, 
which appeared so likely to succeed, that nothing but the 
daily prospect which had been held out of his being ex- 



APPENDIX. 287 

changed, had prevented Major Andre, to whom it had been 
communicated, from adopting it ; from this design, that, 
which is mentioned in the 135th page, partly originated. 

Forty friends of Government armed themselves, and had 
arrived in the neighbourhood of Burlington the day after 
Lt. Col. Simcoe was exchanged, for the avowed purpose of 
rescuing him ; they came near two hundred miles, and had 
provided horses and a proper place for his retreat. Their 
leader, the Prince of the woods, so called from his knowl- 
edge of them, which in America are, as it were, another 
element, had sprained his leg ; or the rescue would have 
taken place, as he afterwards told Lt. Col. Simcoe, ten days 
before his liberation. 

At the time that Lt. Col. Simcoe landed on his incursion, 
a packet-boat lay at Sandy Hook bound for England ; she 
sailed the next day, when it being generally supposed that 
he was killed, the Commander in Chief, Sir Henry Clinton, 
reported his death to the Secretary of State, Lord George 
Germain : when Lt. Col. Simcoe was at Charles Town, the 
General showed him the following paragraph in a letter 
which he had just received from Lord George Germain, in 
answer to the report which had been made of his expedi- 
tion and death : 

" The loss of so able and gallant an officer as Colonel 
" Simcoe is much to be lamented ; but, I hope, his misfor- 
" tune will not damp the spirit of the brave loyalists he so 
" often led out with success. His last enterprise was cer- 
" tainly a very bold one ; and I should be glad he had been 
" in a situation to be informed, that his spirited conduct was 
" approved of by the King." 

Bloxam made his escape soon after Lt. Col. Simcoe's ex- 
change, and, after a variety of adventures, when he got into 
Staten Island, that officer was gone to Charles Town. He 
worked in New York until his return, when he joined him 
that very day on which the Queen's Rangers made the ad- 
vance guard of General Matthews's column in the Jersies ; 



288 APPENDIX. 

and, at his own request, being furnished with arms he fell in 
with the Queen's Rangers, and, to Lt. Col. Simcoe's great 
regret, was killed by a cannon shot when the corps was halt- 
ed, and he was sleeping. 

Lt. Col. Simcoe offered M'Gill an annuity, or to make him 
Quarter-master of cavalry ; the latter he accepted of, as his 
grandfather had been a Captain in King William's army ; 
and no man ever executed the office with greater integrity, 
courage and conduct. 

In the charge on Brunswick Plains, Hampton, the person 
who is mentioned in page 115, line 23, was taken prisoner. 

Marrener was taken prisoner while Lt. Col. Simcoe was 
at Charles Town ; he was obnoxious to the magistrates of 
New York, and probably would not have been exchanged ; 
but on Lt. Col. Simcoe's explaining to the Commander in 
Chief the obligations he was under to him, Sir Henry Clin- 
ton was pleased to let him return home on his parole. 

Randal, or Fitzrandolph, was included in the exchange 
withLt. Colonel Simcoe ; he was soon after killed, as ob- 
served in the 148th page, and probably by the Rangers. 
On that day the army passed Governor Livingston's house ; 
and Lt. Col. Simcoe, who commanded the rear guard, took 
the most anxious pains to preserve it from being burnt by 
any of the exasperated loyalists; and he happily suc- 
ceeded. 

Page 130, line 29. Lt. Col. Simcoe communicated his ideas 
to General Stirling, which, as appears by his letters in the 
appendix, met with his full approbation. 

" 3 P. M. 31st January, 1780. 

" Dear Sir, — I am favoured with yours ; your ideas are 
great, and would be of importance if fulfilled ; as I am con- 
fident of your zeal and capacity, I should be sorry to check 
them, therefore, if you see it clearly, should not stop it. 

" I have no doubt, myself, of the rebels intending an at- 
tack ; but I think they can only do it in one place, the other 



APPENDIX. 289 

must be a feint. I am much of opinion that Richmond 
should be withdrawn, as it might fall if this does, and the 
addition of your regiment would be great to us here, &c.,&c.' 

Page 136, line 28. With the preparations detailed in the ap- 
pendix. 

They are sketched out in the following letter transmitted 
to Gen. Tryon ; to which are added his approbation of the 
plan, and his good wishes towards the author of it, now 
rendered doubly valuable, as since the compilation of these 
memoirs death has deprived his King and country of that 
officer, so eminently distinguished for private virtues, and 
for his zeal in the public service. 

" Sir, — I beg leave to submit to you, and hope that you 
will communicate to his Excellency General Kniphausen, 
the service in which I think that the Queen's Rangers may, 
from their present position, be essentially employed. 

" I would propose, that I should be immediately furnished 
with two gun-boats and twenty batteaux, a water force suf- 
ficient to transport and to cover the landing of three hun- 
dred infantry and sixty horse. 

" The gun-boats should be supplied with swivels, which 
might occasionally be transferred to the bows of the bat- 
teaux ; the small boat already here with a slide or carriage, 
on which the amuzette of the Queen's Rangers might be 
mounted ; the whole should be most completely equipped, 
in w T hich state I would always be attentive to preserve them. 

" I would wish also, for a sloop to carry the lower frame 
work of three small block houses, and occasionally provi- 
sions, and other articles : she might be under the protec- 
tion of the vessel stationed at Billop's point, as the batteaux 
would under that of Richmond redoubts. 

" It would be of great service if the batteaux could be 
mounted on carriages, as it is but two miles and an half 
from Richmond to the South beach, and by such conveyance 



290 APPENDIX. 

the advantage of either tide might be obtained and a move- 
ment made, with scarce a possibility of the enemy's being 
previously acquainted with it ; though, I fear, such an oper- 
ation is not at present in our power, I am not without hopes 
to be able to furnish the means of it from the enemy's shore. 

" The block houses would be of essential service in se- 
curing an encampment, or strengthening a position on the 
enemy's shore ; they would effectually protect a re-embark- 
ation. 

" With this force, capable of moving without the obstruc- 
tions arising from the combination of different services, the 
delay of waiting for orders, and the want of secrecy, which 
necessarily attends the protecting of operations, I doubt not 
but I should be able to protect Staten Island ; to keep the 
enemy in constant alarm from Sandy Hook to Newark bay ; 
to force Mr. Washington to give up the sea coast from Mid- 
dleton to Brunswick, or to protect it with Continental troops; 
to encourage desertion at this very critical period, when the 
rebel army is most seriously discontented ; in short, to ex- 
emplify and improve the advantages resulting from our sit- 
uation. 

" Could more batteaux be spared I should be glad ; the 
cavalry on this island (the best part of which I consider the 
detachment of the 17th dragoons from their superior disci- 
pline to be) being in numbers equal, and in all other respects 
superior, to the cavalry of Mr. Washington's army between 
the Delaware and Hudson's river, might from hence, with- 
out more risk than becomes the service, be of frequent 
and most extensive utility. Gen. Stirling highly approves 
of the plan ; there are now at Richmond a gun-boat, and 
the barge I mentioned to you ; the latter I should have sent 
round by water but had no opportunity. I do myself the 
honour to enclose to you the deficiencies of each, and should 
be glad if supplied. I could wish Major Bruen would be so 
good as to have the barge valued here by some person in 
his department, and a receipt given to the Refugees, if you 



APPENDIX. 291 

think proper to have it purchased. I inclose to your Excel- 
lency the draught, of the gun-boats constructed by Lt. Col. 
Campbell, at the Savannah ; by being covered at the top 
they were able to pass without injury from the fire of small 
arms, under the boldest blufFs ; the top opened occasionally 
for refreshment by means of the hinges, as described in the 
drawing. This addition made to our gun-boats would give 
them great security. 

" If by this, or any other mode of operation, I could be of 
any service to my King and country, I should be most happy: 
the attempt, I am persuaded, will meet with your Excel- 
lency's approbation, which, as I highly value, I shall ever 
hope to deserve, being, with great respect, 

" your Excellency's most obedient, 

" and most humble servant, 

"J. G. SIMCOE." 

" New- York, 3d May, 1780. 

"Sir, — I received, with much satisfaction, your letter, 
delivered me by Capt. Beckwith. My not having the plea- 
sure of seeing you on your departure for the southward, was 
a disappointment to me. It was much my desire to have 
testified my readiness to promote those spirited measures 
you proposed for his Majesty's service ; and, though circum- 
stances have deprived me of that gratification, permit me 
to assure you, I most sincerely wish you, in your career of 
glory, every honourable success your merit, spirit, and zeal, 
entitle you to. I am &c, &c, 

"Lt. Col. Simcoe." "W. TRYON." 

Page 145, line 13. Lt. Col. Simcoe had collected secretly 
through the thickets upon their jlank. 

It was at this moment that a guide, as it appears in the 
proceedings of a court-martial, in the unhappy dispute be- 
tween two officers of the guards, brought an order to Lt. 
Col. Simcoe, " to march into the road," from which (by the 



292 APPENDIX. 

extending of his line) he was distant three hundred yards ; 
and on his replying, " he could take no orders from a guide," 
Gen. Matthews sent Col. Howard (now Earl Suffolk) to 
repeat them. This note is inserted merely to say that it was 
no pertinacious adherence to form ; but his being occupied 
in the attempt to cut off a party of the enemy, which oc- 
casioned Lt. Col. Simcoe's reply to the guide, and which, if 
an officer had brought the order, he would at once have 
seen and reported to the General, whom the intervening 
thickets prevented from the observation of what was trans- 
acting on his left. 

Page 152, line 3. Some circumstances relative to Major 
Andre's unfortunate attempt will be more fully detailed in 
the appendix. 

Upon the first intimation of Major Andre's detention, Lt. 
Col. Simcoe, by letter, desired Lt. Col. Crosbie to inform the 
Commander in Chief, " that if there was any possibility of 
" rescuing him, he and the Queen's Rangers were ready to 
" attempt it, not doubting to succeed in whatever a similar 
" force could effect." At the same time, he sent out persons to 
watch the road between Washington's camp and Philadel- 
phia ; for he reasoned, that without the concurrence of Con- 
gress that General would not proceed to extremities, and that 
probably he would send Major Andre to Philadelphia, in 
which case he might possibly be retaken upon the road 
thither. 

Lt. Col. Simcoe wrote to Col. Lee, of whose generous tem- 
per he had personally received so many proofs, to procure 
an interview with him, ostensibly for the exchange of pris- 
oners, but really to converse with him relative to Major An- 
dre. That officer penetrated his views and returned the 
following answer. 

"Light Camp, Oct. 2d, 1780. 
" Sir, — I will attend to the release and return of Jeremiah 
Owens. 



APPENDIX. 293 

"Be assured no time will be lost in the transaction of this 
business. 

" Our personal feelings are perfectly reciprocal, and I em- 
brace, with peculiar pleasure, the overture of a meeting. 

" My expectation of moving daily, will not allow me to 
fix on the time at present. 

" Our next station, I hope, will be opportune to both of us, 
when I will do myself the honour of notifying to you my 
readiness. 

" Be pleased to accept my best wishes, and for heaven's 
sake omit in future your expressions of obligations confer- 
red by me ; as my knowledge of your character confirms 
my assurance, that a similar visit of fortune to me, will 
produce every possible attention from you. 

" I am happy in telling you, that there is a probability of 
Major Andre's being restored to his country, and the customs 
of war being fully satisfied. 

" I have the honour to be, &c. 

"HENRY LEE. 

" Since writing the foregoing, I find that Sir Henry Clin- 
ton's offers have* not come up to what was expected, and 
that this hour is fixed for the execution of the sentence. 

" How cold the friendship of those high in power !" 

Lt. Col. Simcoe in his answer said : — 

" I am at a loss to express myself on the latter paragraphs 
of your letter ; I have long accustomed myself to be silent, 
or to speak the language of the heart. The useless murder 
of Major Andre would almost, was it possible, annihilate 
that wish which, consentaneous to the ideas of our sove- 
reign, and the government of Great Britain, has ever ope- 
rated on the officers of the British army, the wish of a re- 
conciliation and speedy re-union with their revolted fellow 
subjects in America. 

24 



294 APPENDIX. 

" Sir Henry Clinton has the warmest feelings for those 
under his command, and was ready to have granted for 
Major Andre's exchange, whatever ought to have been 
asked. 

" Though every desire that I had formed to think, in some 
instances, favourably of those who could urge, or of him 
who could permit the murder of this most virtuous and ac- 
complished gentleman, be now totally eradicated ; I must 
still subscribe myself with great personal respect, sir, 
" Your most obedient and obliged servant, 

"J. G. SIMCOE." 

There were no offers whatsoever made by Sir Henry 
Clinton ; amongst some letters which passed on this unfor- 
tunate event, a paper was slid in Without signature, but in 
the hand writing of Hamilton, Washington's secretary, say- 
ing, " that the only way to save Andre was to give up Ar- 
" nold." Major Andre was murdered upon private not pub- 
lic considerations. It bore not with it the stamp of justice ; 
for there was not an officer in the British army whose duty 
it would not have been, had any of the American Generals 
offered to quit the service of Congress, to liave negotiated 
to receive them ; so that this execution could not, by exam- 
ple, have prevented the repetition of the same offence. 

It may appear, that from his change of dress, &c. he 
came under the description of a spy ; but when it shall be 
considered "against his stipulation, intention and knowl- 
edge," he became absolutely a prisoner, and was forced to 
change his dress for self-preservation, it may safely be as- 
serted, that no European general would on this pretext have 
had his blood upon his head. He fell a sacrifice to that 
which was expedient, not to that which was just : what was 
supposed to be useful superceded what would have been 
generous ; and though, by imprudently carrying papers 
about him, he gave a colour to those, who endeavoured to 
separate Great Britain from America, to press for his death ; 



APPENDIX. 295 

yet an open and elevated mind would have found greater 
satisfaction in the obligations it might have laid on the ar- 
my of his opponents, than in carrying into execution a use- 
less and unnecessary vengeance. 

It has been said, that not only the French party from their 
customary policy, but Mr. Washington's personal enemies 
urged him on, contrary to his inclinations, to render him un- 
popular if he executed Major Andre, or suspected if he 
pardoned him. 

In the length of the war, for what one generous action 
has Mr. Washington been celebrated? what honourable 
sentiment ever fell from his lips which can invalidate the 
belief, that surrounded with difficulties and ignorant in 
whom to confide, he meanly sheltered himself under the 
opinions of his officers and the Congress, in perpetrating his 
own previous determination ? and, in perfect conformity to 
his interested ambition, which crowned with success beyond 
human calculation in 1783, to use his own expression, "bid 
" a last farewell to the cares of office, and all the employ- 
"ments of public 'life," to resume them at this moment 
(1787) as President of the American Convention? Had 
Sir Henry Clinton, whose whole behaviour in his public 
disappointment, and most afflicting of private situations, 
united the sensibility of the Friend, with the magnanimity 
of the General, had he possessed a particle of the malignity 
which, in this transaction, was exhibited by the American, 
many of the principal inhabitants of Carolina then in con- 
finement, on the clearest proof for the violation of the law 
of nations, would have been adjudged to the death they had 
merited. 

The papers which Congress published, relative to Major 
Andre's death, will remain an eternal monument of the 
principles of that heroic officer ; and, when fortune shall no 
longer gloss over her fading panegyric, will enable posterity 
to pass judgment on the character of Washington. 



296 APPENDIX. 

Page 153, line 11. At this time Lt. Col. Simcoe recapitulated 
some of his ideas (relative to seizing Billing's Port) by the 
letter which is in the appendix. 

" The present system of war seems to aim principally at 
striking at the resources of the rebels, and in consequence 
by incapacitating them from remitting the produce of their 
country to foreign markets, to render them a burden to the 
powers of Europe who are confederate with them against 
Great Britain. 

" A post on the Delaware would be of utility to this end ; 
and the situation of Billing's Port, peculiarly adapted for 
this purpose, strikes me so forcibly that I trust your Excel- 
lency will pardon my particularizing some of its features, 
and a few of its many advantages. 

" The ground is an entire flat ; it is not commanded ; the 
rebels had begun a large work there, which they left unfin- 
ished when Sir William Howe took possession of Philadel- 
phia. On our evacuation of that city Mr. Mifflin pointed 
out to them the necessity of resuming and completing the 
fortification ; the opening of the chevaux du frize is made 
close under the bold bluff, which terminates the terre-plein 
towards the water : this, with the other chevaux du frize 
above, would be turned much to our advantage. A suffi- 
cient water force to prevent any shipping or gallies from 
commanding the river above, and which in some respect 
should be moveable, would be requisite : perhaps a trans- 
port or two on the establishment of the Margery, a trans- 
port of the garrison armed with cannonades, a few gallies 
and gun-boats, would accomplish every wished for end. 

" The work to be erected should be calculated at least for 
three hundred regular troops to defend, to which should be 
added three hundred light troops, habituated to make incur- 
sions, &c. &c. 

" It seems probable that an expedition will sooner or later 
be formed for Virginia ; the troops intended for this service 



APPENDIX. 297 

might be landed, fortify, and leave a garrison at Billing's 
Port in a few days, carrying with them frame works for 
bomb proofs, &c. from New York, which might be given 
out to be intended for Portsmouth, or some post in Virginia. 
The advantages resulting from the possession of this port, 
would be an entire stop of the trade of the Delaware, pro- 
bably the driving the Congress from Philadelphia, or by a 
very little exertion of policy, being in early possession of 
their most secret resolutions and intentions ; it would en- 
courage desertion, particularly that of the ship-builders in 
Philadelphia. 

" To besiege this garrison while the river is open will be 
a matter of great difficulty ; the road from Staten Island to 
Trenton being so much nearer than a retreat from Bil- 
ling's Port to that pass, and the Delaware being almost eve- 
ry where too wide for a bridge of boats, or for batteries 
raised upon each shore effectually to command a retreat. 
The place might be invested by the Jersey militia ; they are 
not numerous, or to be feared, and would soon be disarmed 
by a proper mixture of conciliatory and vigorous measures. 

" The officer commanding the port should, if it could be 
contrived, have the command also of the water forces ; at 
least not a boat should be permitted to land without his con- 
currence. The garrison should purchase what fresh provi- 
sions might be allowed them, and should never be placed in 
a situation to commit unmilitary depredations. 

" I doubt not but that a thousand advantages and disad- 
vantages resulting from this post must strike your Excellen- 
cy's comprehensive views, which do not appear to my partial 
one. If, at any future time, although I am not willing to be 
wedded to a redoubt, your Excellency should seize on this 
post, I should be very ready to stake on its defence, or its 
loss from the most inevitable reasons, every hope that I have 
of military prefermen' , and of being esteemed a faithful and 
honourable servant of my King and Country." 
24* 



298 



APPENDIX. 



It is probable that had not circumstances prevented Sir 
Henry Clinton from pursuing the plan of operations which 
he had intended, in the course of them Billing's Port would 
have attracted his attention. 

Page 181, line 20. Capt. Stevenson's humanity was alarmed, 
and the letters, which are in the appendix, passed between 
Lt. Col. Simcoe and Col. Parker : they prevented all fur- 
ther bad consequences. 

" Portsmouth, Sunday, March 4, 1781. 

" Sir, — I do myself the honour of enclosing to you Captain 
Stevenson's justification of Mr. Gregory in your service ; 
and am to assure you, what the ties of humanity summon 
me to declare, that Capt. Stevenson mentioned to me, some 
hours before it was known that the gun-boat was taken, the 
fictitious letter you found among his papers ; at a distance 
the matter appeared in a ludicrous light ; as it may other- 
wise probably lead to serious consequences, I solemnly con- 
firm the truth of Capt. Stevenson's explanation of the affair ; 
and add, upon the sacred honour of a soldier and a gentle- 
man, that I have no reason to believe or suspect that Mr. 
Gregory is otherwise than a firm adherent of the French 
King, and of the Congress. 

" I have the honour to be, sir, &c, 

« To Col. Parker." " J. G. SIMCOE." 

" Col. Simcoe, 

" Sir, — The honour of a soldier I ever hold sacred, and am 
happy that you are called on by motives of humanity to 
acquit General Gregory. As to my own opinion, I believe 
you : but as the management of this delicate matter is left 
to my superiors, I have forwarded the letter you honoured me 
with to Baron Steuben, who I trust will view it in the same 
manner I do. " I have the honour to be, sir, &c, 

" March 5, 1781. " J. PARKER, Col." 



APPENDIX. 299 

Page 192, line 13. General Phillips ashed Lt. Col. Simcoe, 
when he waited upon him to make his report, how many men 
it would require to defend York Town ? 

This conversation is dwelt upon in the journal in order to 
set in its proper light a passage in a letter from Sir Henry 
Clinton to Lord Cornwallis — " I confess I could not conceive 
" you would require above four thousand in a station where 
"General Arnold had represented to me, (upon report of 
" Colonel Simcoe,) that two thousand men would be amply 
" sufficient." 

General Arnold was second in command, so that no par- 
ticular report was made to him ; but he was present at the 
conversation which passed between Lt. Col. Simcoe and 
General Phillips. 

Page 210, line 25. Lt. Col. Simcoe, while at Westover, re- 
ceived a letter from General Lee. 

"March 3d,~ 1781. 
" Dear Sir, — From the liberality of mind which you are 
universally allowed to be blessed with, I have little doubt 
but that what I am about to offer to your consideration will 
be favourably received — but I must first premise that, what- 
soever some flaming zealots in the British army may insist 
to the contrary, it is very possible that several who embark- 
ed on this side in the present contest were very good English- 
men, and I can venture to assert that I am one of this 
stamp — for I considered, that had the Ministry succeeded 
in their scheme of establishing the principle of taxing 
America without her consent, the liberties of Great Britain 
would that instant have been annihilated in effect, though 
the form might have remained. For as the pecuniary influ- 
ence of the Crown was already enormously too great, so pro- 
digious an additional weight thrown into the preponderating 
scale must sink to utter ruin every part of the Empire — on 
the other hand I will venture to assert, notwithstanding all 
that some of the flaming fanatics on this side may please to 



300 APPENDIX. 

assume, that it is the interest of eyery good American that 
Great Britain should ever be a great, powerful, and opulent 
nation — but the measure she ought to pursue, in my idea, 
to obtain and secure this power, opulence, and greatness, I 
cannot at present with propriety explain ; but I can with 
propriety point out some which she ought not to pursue. 
For instance, her Generals and Commanders ought not to 
suffer, or connive at by impunity, the little dirty piratical 
plundering of individuals — such proceedings can only tend 
to widen the breach already, to the misfortune of both par- 
ties, much too wide, by souring men's minds into a state of 
irreconcilable resentment : in short, it is diametrically re- 
pugnant, not only to the honour, but to the true interest and 
policy of Great Britain, abstracted from all considerations 
of the cruelty and inhumanity towards very worthy families. 
But to be just, I really believe that most, if not all of these 
flagitious scandalous acts are committed unknown to the 
English General and Commodore, as from the air and garb 
of the robbers they have not the appearance of being legally 
commissioned. This, my dear sir, is the main purpose of 
my letter, which I write as a good Englishman, as a good 
American, and as a gentleman addressing himself to another 
of whom he has a very high opinion ; and I have no doubt 
but that you will exert all your power and influence to pun- 
ish and put an end to such abominable practices. 

" I have nothing to add, but to entreat that whatever let- 
ters I may send in you will convey safely to my relations. 
There is indeed one other favour I request ; which is, that 
you will by the first opportunity assure Sir Henry Clinton, 
General Robinson, and General Leslie, of my personal re- 
spect and esteem, and I beg you will remember me kindly 
to General Phillips : — But above all, I entreat you will be- 
lieve me to be, most sincerely your's, 

"CHARLES LEE." 



APPENDIX. 301 

Page 222, line 5. In the middle of the day a patrolefrom Lt. 
Col. Tarleton, who ivas on the opposite side of the Rivana, 
communicated with him. 

In Col. Tarleton's history of the campaigns in the south- 
ern Provinces, published since the completion of this Jour- 
nal, there is the following paragraph : 

" If the distance would have allowed Lt. Col. Simcoe to 
" send a small party of huzzars to inform the corps at Char- 
" lotteville of the flight of the Americans, Lt. Col. Tarleton 
* might have been in time to harrass Baron Steuben's pro- 
" gress, whilst Lt. Col. Simcoe would have pressed him in 
" the rear ; and a combination of this sort would, in all 
" probability, have ruined that body of new levies : but the 
" distance of thirty-five miles in an enemy's country, and the 
" uncertainty of Tarleton's success, perhaps represented 
" such a co-operation as too speculative and precarious." 

It appears that Lt. Col. Tarleton marched from Charlotte- 
ville towards the Point of Fork nearly at the time that Lt. 
Col. Simcoe arrived there ; had that officer sent a patrole to 
Lt. Col. Tarleton, the whole of the intelligence it could have 
conveyed to him would have been, that the Baron Steuben, 
with a far more considerable force than had been appre- 
hended, had crossed a rapid, broad, unfordable river, was in 
possession of all the boats, and encamped upon its banks : 
T^ut Lt. Col. Simcoe most assuredly could not have ordered 
Lt. Col. Tarleton immediately to join him, to pursue the 
Baron with any probability of success ; and, without an 
absolute certainty, he could not have taken the liberty of 
breaking through Earl Cornwallis's express orders of re- 
joining him, without delay, at Goochland Court-house, and 
of marching away with all his light troops to a considera- 
ble distance. But there was a total impossibility of pass- 
ing the river ; it was not fordable for many miles, and the 
combination, Lit. Col. Tarleton talks of, was absolutely im- 



302 



APPENDIX. 



practicable. He observes, that the distance from Charlotte- 
ville was thirty-five miles, which would have been too great 
had the river been fordable ; but the uncertainty of his suc- 
cess could be no impediment as, at any rate, there was no 
enemy to oppose him, and his march was easily to be trac- 
ed ; nor could these reasons " represent such co-operation 
" as speculative and precarious," at least to Lt. Col. Simcoe, 
as the idea never once entered his mind, and he was much 
surprised when he saw it in Lt. Col. Tarleton's campaigns, 
as till then he never had heard it suggested. 

Page 236, line 10. It was reported, and not without proba- 
bility, that a patrole of the enemy met with this party on the 
road, where it was natural to expect Lord Cornwallis' s army, 
and took it for his advance guard, and that this belief pre- 
vented them from renewing the attack. 

In Lt. Col. Tarleton's history is the following passage : 
" The movement of Lt. Col. Tarleton from his advance 
" post in the morning was a favourable incident for the 
" Americans ; for if the legion foraging party under Capt. 
"Ogilvie, who accidentally approached the flank of the ri- 
" flemen, could produce hesitation and astonishment, the 
" charge of the whole cavalry, must have considerably as- 
" sisted Lt. Col. Simcoe, whose judicious conduct obliged 
" Col. Butler to fall back upon Gen. Wayne, before the arri- 
" val of the infantry from Williamsburg, or the dragoons 
" from Burr el's ; the loss in this affair was nearly equal, ex- 
" cept that the British took some prisoners." 

It is not to be doubted, but that Lt. Col. Simcoe would 
have been happy to have been assisted by Lt. Col. Tarleton 
and his cavalry, and would have employed him to the best 
of his power ; but the ground was such that the cavalry 
could not have been properly risked in an attack, otherwise 
than what Capt. Shank accomplished, or adventured in the 
pursuit, as the enemy fled through thick woods which led 
to a ravine, beyond which M. Fayette's army drew up in force. 



APPENDIX. 303 

The approach of Capt. Ogilvie was not of the least ser- 
vice to the Rangers, as it was at too great a distance to as- 
sist their attack ; nor could any movement from Williams- 
burg have been in time sufficient to have preserved the 
troops under Lt. Col. Simcoe, who owed their preservation 
as much to their own exertions as if there had not been 
another British soldier in Virginia. Upon the first repulse 
of the enemy, it was Lt. Col. Simcoe's business to retire, 
and this he instantly effected. 

Capt. Ewald, who since the war has published some mil- 
itary observations in Germany, has proposed to those who 
may be in similar circumstances, Lt. Col. Simcoe's conduct 
as a proper example ; he affirms, that had he pursued he 
would have been cut oft'. 

Infantry might have been of service in following the en- 
emy through the wood, to the brink of the ravine. 

Page 248, line 24. The climate, the sickly state and condition 
of the corps, as more fully detailed in the appendix. 

Lt. Col. Simcoe had represented this to Sir Henry Clinton, 
in the following letter : 

" I do myself the honour of writing to your Excellency 
by the present opportunity, and of making such representation 
of the Queen's Rangers as I think to be my indispensable 
duty. The infantry are much reduced in numbers by de- 
sertion, the consequence of their composition, opportunities, 
unremitting fatigues, and by death ; while those remaining 
are much shattered in point of constitution : the cavalry are 
admirably mounted, but more than half are without accou- 
trements, or any arms, but such as we have taken from an 
ill-appointed enemy. The arms and accoutrements, which 
I apprehend had been intended for Capt. Cooke's troop, were 
sent by the Inspector to Lord Cornwallis, who gave them to 
the legion, for whom he had made the application. In this 
situation, without time to discipline, and without proper 



304 APPENDIX. 

arms, I am obliged to trust more to fortune than I have ever 
found necessary, and that against an enemy who is improv- 
ing every day. 

" My duty therefore leads me to hope, that, as we have 
• been already embarked for New York, that your Excellency, 
should any troops be ordered there, will be pleased to direct 
the Queen's Rangers to be sent among the first, with, or if 
that cannot be done, without their horses ; as that is the only 
place where the corps can be recruited. Your Excellency 
will, I am sure, be confident, that no private view dictates 
this application ; and believe, that all climates and services, 
where I can be useful, are indifferent to me." 

Lt. Col. Simcoe had been directed by the Commander in 
Chief to communicate with him, and to give him such in- 
formation from time to time as he thought might be for the 
good of the service, while he was under the command of 
Gen. Arnold ; and he had always most strongly repre- 
sented the great importance of possessing a small naval 
force on the Carratuck inlet, both to secure a retreat and to 
connect the operations of Virginia with those of Carolina : 
he had been an eye-witness, that the naval force stationed 
in the Chesapeake bay, by no means blocked it up, or pre- 
vented the enemy's vessels from going in or out at their 
pleasure. In this letter he added : — 

" I take this opportunity of enclosing to your Excellency 
two sketches, taken amongst the papers of the Marquis de 
la Fayette. The road from Philadelphia to Kent island is 
accurately delineated ; and, should your Excellency, as I 
hope, visit Philadelphia in your way to this colony, points 
out the facility of crossing the isthmus, and the consequence 
of Kent Island, where I have long thought a post would be 
of great effect, to give an asylum to the distressed friends 
of government, and by the station of a few cruisers effect- 
ually to block up the Chesapeake, which cannot or has not 
hitherto been done." 



APPENDIX. 305 

It was natural for Lt. Col. Simcoe to fix his mind on those 
operations, which he had reason to expect would be under- 
taken on the upper part of the Chesapeake ; the country of 
the associated loyalists. 

This wish to return to New York was considerably 
strengthened by the belief, that the sea voyage would 
greatly amend the health of the soldiers, and by his hopes 
that they might be of public utility in their convalescent 
state, if the General and Admiral would have consented to 
have entrusted his friend, Capt. Thomas Graves and himself, 
with a flying squadron, to have carried on that mode of war 
which would have been severely felt by the enemy ; the 
keeping their coasts in constant alarm, from Boston to Vir- 
ginia, and the following and destroying their shipping in 
their innumerable smaller harbours. The fatal event at 
York Town terminated these views, and Lt. Col. Simcoe's 
services. His friend, Capt. Thomas Graves, was more for- 
tunate : he was appointed to the frigate La Magicienne, 
which he manned at a considerable private expense ; but 
with a disinterested spirit truly becoming the British officer, 
declined taking possession of her, while in the command of 
a line of battle ship, he thought he could be more useful to 
his country, and that honourable service was to be met with 
in the West Indies or America : and when he accepted of 
the frigate, being employed on convoys, he fell in with the 
Sybil French frigate of superior force to himself, doubly 
manned, and commanded by an officer of distinguished 
character. Their engagement was rendered memorable by 
their being locked close to each other for near two hours, 
with every sail set, by the carnage on board the British ship, 
exceeding what in similar numbers is to be met with in the 
annals of the late war, and by the circumstance, that when 
Capt. Graves had silenced the fire of his opponent, the masts 
of the La Magicienne fell overboard and fortune deprived him 
of his prize and of all, but the glory of having deserved it. 
25 



306 APPENDIX. 

Page 250, line 17. Earl Cornwallis in a conversation with 
Lt. Col. Simcoe asked him, " whether he thought he could 
escape with the cavalry ? " he answered his Lordship, " with- 
out the smallest doubt." 

The great outline which Lt. Col. Simcoe laid down as the 
means by which he could escape, was to march straight up 
the country till such time as he had arrived parallel to the 
fords of the Susquehanna ; leaving it uncertain whether he 
meant to proceed to Carolina or Pennsylvania; he then 
would have crossed towards the Susquehanna, directing his 
march so as to endeavour to release the Convention army, 
or to impress the enemy with a belief that such was his in- 
tention, if it should appear impracticable : when, being 
above the fords of the Delaware, he would have passed that 
river, and proceeded towards Staten Island or New York ; 
by that route which would have been most feasible. 

For some time previous to Earl Cornwallis's question, Lt. 
Col. Simcoe had formed the idea of escaping with his cav- 
alry, and such men as could have been mounted, in short 
the whole of his corps ; and he had acquired a most perfect 
knowledge of the different fords, and formed for himself a 
regular plan. Capt. Ewald saw him one day looking over 
Xenophon, and immediately said, " My Colonel, you are go- 
" ing to retreat ; for God's sake do not leave the Yagers be- 
"hind you." Those who are not acquainted with the Ameri- 
can country and its internal situation, would look upon such 
an attempt as chimerical ; but a consideration of circum- 
stances might alter their opinion. The whole of the ene- 
my's force was concentrated at York Town ; their cavalry 
consisted of the Duke of Lauzun's legion, ill-mounted, few 
in numbers, and unacquainted with the country and the ge- 
nius of the war ; no serious interruption or pursuit could 
be expected from them ; such a corps as four or five hund- 
red men were exactly calculated for the attempt. A single 
plantation would have furnished them with sufficient pro- 
visions and forage ; the rapidity of their march would pre- 



APPENDIX. 307 

vent any determined opposition ; and, as the party proceeded, 
horses could be accumulated to remount those which might 
be disabled. 

The country was sufficiently loyal to give the best intelli- 
gence ; much could have been procured by means of the 
negroes, and these people, if properly managed, might have 
been of infinite service as auxiliaries ; they are brave, ex- 
cellent horsemen, masters of the sword, capable of fatigue 
and exertion in the hottest weather, and would have been 
tremendous in a pursuit. 

The composition of the Queen's Rangers suited it for any 
enterprise ; the huzzars had been practised in swimming 
their horses, and the native Americans and emigrants were 
expert in whatever might facilitate the passage of rivers, 
or prevent an enemy from effecting it. There were no 
troops between New York and Virginia, and if the militia 
were called out to guard the principal fords (as was report- 
ed) it was with a view to stop an army, and not a light 
corps, whose march would be directed far above the line 
they were destined to occupy, and to points with which they 
were unacquainted. 

Page 254, line 7. His Lordship was pleased to express him- 
self favourably in regard to the scheme, but said he could not 
permit it to be undertaken, for that the whole of the army 
must share one fate. 

The Rangers, from their many voyages, on board of half- 
manned transports, and from their officers encouraging them 
to assist in the working of the vessels, were become so 
ready and expert at sea, that in a periodical production 
which stated the number of the troops taken at York Town, 
it was not surprising that the Queen's Rangers were remark- 
ed as, all sailors. 

Upon Capt. Palmer's success, Lt. Col. Simcoe had taken 
the liberty of suggesting, " that by fitting out all the small 
" craft as fire vessels, and driving the French ships from the 



308 APPENDIX. 

" river in the night, two thousand men, which the boats 
" would carry, might escape to the Maryland shore :" his 
Lordship replied, "he saw no daylight in that mode of escape." 
The duty and consequent principles of a subordinate offi- 
cer and a commander in chief are as different and distinct 
as limited views and universal ones can possibly make 
them : the inferior officer has only to perform any service he 
may be ordered on, and to be ready for those which are 
most hazardous, while the commander in chief weighs the 
propriety of any measure, sees it in all its lights and rela- 
tions, and determines accordingly ; and the greater alacrity 
which his troops show to execute his designs, the more val- 
uable they become ; and cannot fail strongly to interest a 
noble mind in their preservation : And this principle Earl 
Cornwallis, when he surrendered York Town to the prodi- 
gious superiority of force combined against him, generously 
expressed in the following terms : " Our numbers had been 
" diminished by the enemy's fire ; but particularly by sick- 
" ness, and the strength and spirits of those in the works 
" were much exhausted by the fatigue of constant watching 
" and unremitting duty. Under all these circumstances, I 
" thought it would have been wanton and inhuman to the 
" last degree, to sacrifice the lives of this small body of gal- 
" lant soldiers, who had ever behaved with so much fidelity 
" and courage, by exposing them to an assault, which, from 
" the numbers and precautions of the enemy, could not fail 
" to succeed." 

Page 258, line 18. Lt. Col. Simcoe, whose exchange Govern- 
ment had procured from Dr. Franklin. 

Lieut. Col. Simcoe has always thought himself under the 
highest obligations to his Majesty's Ministers for this mark 
of attention ; the terms on which he was exchanged are 
here inserted, verbatim, from Dr. Franklin's discharge : " Be- 
" ing informed by William Hodgson, Esq. Chairman of the 
" Committee of Subscribers for the relief of American Pri- 



APPENDIX. 309 

" soners in England, of the benevolent and humane treat- 
" ment lately received by the said prisoners in consequence 
" of orders from the present British Ministers ; and that the 
" said Ministers earnestly desire, that Lt. Col. Simcoe, a pri- 
" soner on parole to the United States of America, should 
" be released from his said, parole ; and being further of 
" opinion, that meeting the British Government in acts of be- 
" nevolence, is agreeable to the disposition and intention of 
• the Congress : I do hereby, as far as in my power may lie, 
" absolve the parole of the said Lt. Col. Simcoe ; but on this 
" condition, that an order be obtained for the discharge of 
" some officer of equal rank, who being a prisoner to the 
" English in America, shall be named by the Congress, or 
" by Gen. Washington for that purpose, and that three co- 
" pies of such order be transmitted to me. Given at Passy, 
" this 14th of January, 1783. B. FRANKLIN, 

" Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of 
" America at the Court of France." 

This seems a proper place to relate, that Captain Agnew 
of the Queen's Rangers, who had been so severely wounded 
at the battle of Brandywine, as to render him unable to un- 
dergo the duties of the corps in the field, had embarked for 
Virginia, of which he was a native at the time General Les- 
lie went to that province ; — his father, Mr. Agnew, Chaplain 
of the Queen's Rangers, Captains Parker and Blair, loyal- 
ists, who had joined Earl Dunmore on the first revolt of Vir- 
ginia, and other gentlemen, sailed on the same expedition. 
They followed the movements of Gen. Leslie into Carolina ; 
and, Gen. Arnold having taken possession of Portsmouth, 
were returning to that place on board of the Romulus, when 
that ship was captured by a French squadron. 

The following letters will explain their consequent situa- 
tion ; and exemplify some of those acts of benevolence 
agreeable to the intention and disposition of the Congress, 
as mentioned by Dr. Franklin in his preceding letter : 
25* 



310 APPENDIX. 

" Dear Sir, — Fortune, I trust, at last has put it in my pow- 
er to inform you of our unhappy and wretched captivity. 
You may remember Gen. Washington's visit to the French 
fleet ; it is from that period I date the commencement of our 
misfortunes last spring ; when, being informed of the pri- 
soners taken in the Romulus, a distinction was made be- 
tween the gentlemen of the ship, and the officers passengers 
for the army in Virginia, viz. Captains James Parker, Blair, 
Agnew, my father, and Mr. Cramond. Some of the above 
gentlemen were formerly his old acquaintances. From the 
knowledge these gentlemen had of the colony, and the 
French and American operations being so soon to take place 
there, Mr. Washington's conduct can be easily accounted 
for ; as a demand was soon after made of us, which we 
were informed of by Congress. The French, either think- 
ing it improper to give up their prisoners to the Americans, 
or having other views relative to us, refused the demand ; 
but at the same time consented to treat us in the manner I 
am to inform you of. We were immediately separated from 
our friends, and embarked on board the frigate La Hermi- 
one, (as we understood,) for France ; having a letter from 
the Major d'Escadre, informing us we should be sent to 
France. The Hermione, on the contrary, was bound to 
Boston, where we soon after arrived, and were re-embarked 
on board La Concorde, still thinking ourselves on our way 
to France ; but, to our great surprise, soon learnt that the 
ship was for St. Domingo, and that we were to be confined 
there. We arrived the 6th of July ; a room in the common 
prison was prepared for us ; but, by the humanity of the 
Captain of the La Concorde, we were prevented going to 
the prison, and were shut up in an hospital, in hot cells, near 
four months. As the French and American operations took 
place in Virginia, so the time of our deliverance approach- 
ed ; and we were (to fulfil the Major's letter) embarked on 
board of different ships, armed en Flute, for France, the 23d 
of October. Our passage was dismal. L'Union, a 64 gun 



APPENDIX. 311 

ship, on board of which was Capt. Parker, foundered at sea, 
the crew being happily saved. La Sensible, in which was 
Mr. Blair, has never been heard of since ; the ship, on board 
of which were my father and myself, having lost the use of 
her rudder in a storm, lay a wreck twenty-four hours. How- 
ever, sir, we have escaped all, to be more barbarously treat- 
ed in France. The 6th of December we arrived at Brest ; 
we were landed, and immediately carried to a place of con- 
finement, where we found two officers of the 86th, of the 
Tobago capitulation. Brest not being a place for keeping 
prisoners, and the Commandant, probably not knowing of 
Mr. Blair's absence, sent the next morning an order to con- 
duct the five officers from St. Domingo to Dinant Castle. 
The order being indiscriminate, and the two Tobago gen- 
tlemen coming in the same fleet, they were instantly taken 
and carried off* with Capt. Parker, my father, and self, to 
Dinant. Whether this is a mistake at Brest, or not, I can- 
not know ; for, as the original reason for treating us five 
with such severity cannot now exist, and having heard we 
were regarded as hostages for French officers, that were, or 
had been, in the hands of Admiral Arbuthnot, our present 
misfortunes may arise from other causes than the primitive, 
as we are now actually regarded as prisoners of state to 
France : the above, whether intentional or accidental, had 
one happy tendency, which is that Mr. Cramond I hope, is, 
in England. We were put into a large vault or dungeon 
in Dinant Castle, where we remained in the most wretched 
situation, until we found means to acquaint the Command- 
ant of Bretagne of our situation, who has been humane 
enough, for such I must call it, to remove us to St. Maloes 
Castle, where we now are, shut close up as prisoners of 
state ; having seen the orders sent to the Count De Guion 
for that purpose. I am afraid there is some secret reason 
for our treatment, that I cannot divine ; for no nation, I be- 
lieve, admires the virtue of loyalty and firmness more than 
the French. I am indebted to stratagem for the convey- 



312 APPENDIX. 

ance of this ; by the same means, I have written to the Mi- 
nister, being deprived of pen, ink, and paper, and probably 
may not have another chance ; I trust, should my letter to 
Lord George Germain miscarry, that Col. Simcoe will use 
those means his judgment will best point out to inform our 
friends at home of our situation. 

" Suffer me, Col. Simcoe, to recommend to your humane 
and tender sensibility an aged and beloved parent : that, 
should she stand in need of your kind attention or advice, 
she may always have it in her power to have recourse to a 
friend ! — But oh God ! who knows, perhaps she at this mo- 
ment, from an independent affluence, is reduced, by the 
vicissitudes of the times, to penury ! — My heart, afflicted 

with the misfortunes of our family, can no more 

" Your's, &c, " STAIR AGNEW." 

«■ St. Maloes Castle, 26th Feb. 1782." 

" Caen, 20th August, 1782. 

"My Dear Colonel, — Apprehensive my letters do not 
reach you, as I have never had the honour of hearing from 
you since in France, and now having a private opportunity, 
I send you in part duplicates of those letters which I have 
wrote you, and which will best tend to inform you of our 
situation. Your being in England is a circumstance the 
most happy for us, being convinced at last we have a friend. 
I hope this will not be subjected to any inspection, and con- 
sequently shall endeavour to be as particular to you as pos- 
sible, relative to our present situation. 

" It is to the Duke of Harcourt, Governor of the province 
of Normandy, we are indebted for our parole here, and the 
present indulgences we enjoy ; hearing of our situation in 
the castle of St. Maloes, the victims of policy, he most 
readily interested himself with the Minister in our behalf, 
and through his remarkable attention and politeness has 
much alleviated our misfortunes. He has not been less as- 
siduous in endeavouring to exchange us ; but alas ! his 



APPENDIX. 313 

powers are not equal to his good inclination. Le Marquis 
de Castries has referred him to the American Minister, 
and has informed him it was at the instance of America 
we were detained in France. I have the honour of trans- 
mitting to you the letter of Mr. Franklin in answer to the 
Marquis de Castries on this subject. 

" Passy, 2d April, 1782. 
" I have received the letter your Excellency did me the 
honour of writing to me, relating to Messrs. Agnew, father 
and son, and Capt. Parker, Englishmen, prisoners taken in 
America, and brought to France. I know nothing of those 
persons, or of the circumstances that might induce the Del- 
egates of Virginia to desire their detention, no account of 
them from that state being come to my hands, nor have I 
received any orders or instructions from the Congress con- 
cerning them. I therefore cannot properly make any oppo- 
sition to their being permitted to reside at Caen on their 
parole of honour, or to their being exchanged in pursuance 
of the cartel, as his Majesty in his wisdom shall think 
proper. I am, sir, &c, 

" Signed, " BENJAMIN FRANKLIN." 

" From this letter we readily concluded that every obsta- 
cle was removed ; and in consequence the Duke of Har- 
court wrote to M. de Castries requesting our exchange, that 
we might, as British officers, benefit ourselves of the cartel 
established between the two nations for that express purpose. 

" The Duke has shown me the answer of M. de Castries 
to this last letter, and from which it appears determined to 
keep us in France. He tells him, " Qu'il ne lui est pas possible 
" d'y condescendre, parceque M. de la Luzerne a mance a 
" M. de Rochambault que le Congres desiroit qu'ils ne fussent 
" pas echanges, comme etant des Torries dangereux dans le 
" Sud, ou ils servoient trop bien leur Patrie." 

" Such is our situation at present, my dear Colonel ; nor 
have we a hope of relief, but in our country, and your kind 



314 APPENDIX. 

endeavours ; if we are not demanded, here we remain dur- 
ing the war ! Heavens! what a succession of melancholy 
vicissitudes ! I have an aged parent at New York, who, 
totally dependent on the endeavours of her husband and an 
only son, perhaps, from a genteel affluence, at this moment 
is reduced to want ! Oh God ! what do I say ? perhaps she 
is no more ! Such are the misfortunes attendant on civil 
war ; and shall we, my dear Colonel, who have sacrificed 
all but a natural and unalienable allegiance, shall we not 
find friends who dare reclaim us ? who dare insist on our 
exchange ? For what is there a cartel between the two 
nations ? Are we not British officers ? Are we not French 
prisoners ? I ever apprehended that the meanest servant was 
entitled to the protection of the state he served ; and shall 
France, at the instance of America, shut up his Majesty's 
subjects in her dungeons and castles with impunity ? No ! 
should this happily reach you, I trust such measures will be 
adopted as to effect our exchange agreeable to the cartel. 
Surely there are French officers enough in England. 

" Your's, &c, " STAIR AGNEW." 

Lord George Germain had applied to the French Ministry 
for the release of these officers, previous to the arrival of 
Lt. Col. Simcoe in England, but with little effect ; applica- 
tion was made to the succeeding Secretaries of State. On 
the approach of peace they were exchanged : it is most 
probable had the war continued they would have remained 
prisoners ; so faithfully did the Ministers of France serve 
the American Congress, and maintain the character which 
that kingdom has acquired for ages, of trampling upon every 
tie of humanity which interferes with her policy ! 

The Duke de Lauzun politely offered to procure Lt. Col. 
Simcoe a passage in the frigate he was to proceed with to 
France : he received many civilities from the American of- 
ficers to whom he had been opposed, and Col. Lee, by visit- 
ing him, afforded him an opportunity of personally acknowl- 



APPENDIX. 315 

edging the obligation he had been under to that officer. 
General O'Hara had kindly interested himself in explaining 
to Earl Cornwall is how necessary it was for him immedi- 
ately to proceed to New York ; and Baron Steuben desired 
to procure, through Gen. Washington, a passage for him in 
the French frigate ready to sail for Europe. Lt. Col. Sim- 
coe had asked Lt. Spencer to acknowledge his sense of the 
Baron's civilities, and in some trifling points to request his 
interference ; that officer had a long conversation with 
Baron Steuben, who told him that he had heard of Lt. Col. 
Tarleton's march to Charlotteville, but not of Lt. Col. Sim- 
coe's to the Point of Fork, and that he took his corps for 
Earl Cornwallis's army. Lt. Col. Simcoe has often had oc- 
casion to mention some of the many instances of Lt. Spen- 
cer's military talents ; and the following anecdote will evince 
the heroic spirit with which he was animated, and on that 
account be acceptable to the readers of this journal. 

At the conclusion of the American war, and previous to 
the evacuation of New York by the King's troops, Lieut. 
Spencer of the Queen's Rangers, (who was then at Phila- 
delphia,) received a letter from Major Hanger of the British 
legion, informing him, that Lieut. H. Paymaster of that reg- 
iment had absconded ; that he had taken with him five 
standards which that regiment had in different actions 
seized from the enemy, and that he was supposed to be in 
Philadelphia. The Major was pleased to pass some com- 
pliments on Lt. Spencer, expressive of the idea he enter- 
tained of his integrity and zeal for the service, he desired 
him to go to Mr. H. well armed, and to force him at any 
rate to deliver up the trophies : indeed he said " I am at 
" ease ; for I am sure nothing but the loss of your life in the 
" attempt, can prevent you getting them." 

At seven in the evening Lt. Spencer received the Major's 
letter ; without losing a moment he put a pair of pistols in 
his pockets, went to the sign of the Indian Queen, where 
he learnt Mr. H. quartered, enquired for his room, and was 



316 APPENDIX. 

told by one of the servants that he lodged in such a num- 
ber, and was at home ; . he went up, but Mr. H. was not 
there ; he took the liberty however of opening a small 
trunk he saw in the room ; he found the standards, took off 
his coat, waistcoat and shirt, wrapped them round his body, 
slit up his waistcoat behind, that he might button it, &c. 
came out of the house and went to the inn, from which the 
vehicle set off for New York, which it did that night at 8 
o'clock ; and the next day he delivered the standards to the 
Major in New York, who received them with singular 
marks of joy and proper acknowledgments. 

On his road to New York, at Brunswick, Lt. Spencer was 
insulted by some of the inhabitants ; they knew him by his 
uniform to be one of the cavalry of the Queen's Rangers ; 
of course concluded that he was one of those who had at- 
tended Lt. Col. Simcoe in his alert at the time that gentle- 
man was taken prisoner. A singular dislike of the Queen's 
Rangers had been occasioned by the frequent incursions that 
corps had made into the Jersies, and particularly by the 
death of Capt. Vorhees, who was killed on the return of the 
party under the command of Lt. Col. Simcoe : he was an 
inhabitant of Brunswick, and was to have been married the 
day after, if his death had not happened. 

The populace assembled (during dinner) round the house, 
hissing and hooting ; and had it not been for the interposi- 
tion of some American officers, passengers in the same wag- 
gon, it is likely they might have proceeded to violent meas- 
ures had they laid hands on Mr. Spencer, and found the col- 
ours as described in his possession : those, only, who are ac- 
quainted with the vindictive spirit of the Jersey people can 
know the fatal consequences. 

Lt. Spencer returned immediately to Philadelphia on pur- 
pose to give Mr. H. every satisfaction he might require ; 
Mr. H. waited on him and desired immediate redress ; Mr. 
S. expostulated with him on the impropriety of his conduct ; 
the hour was appointed for the meeting, but Mr. H. cooled, 
was sorry for what he had done, and here the matter ended. 



APPENDIX. 317 

The following letters will conclude this appendix ; they 
were sent to Lt. Col. Simcoe soon after the preliminaries of 
the peace were divulged in America. The former was 
written by one of the principal of the associated loyalists 
on the upper parts of the Chesapeake, and transmitted to 
Lt. Col. Simcoe by Mr. C. Sowers, a loyalist of Pennsylva- 
nia, lt is more easy for the reader to imagine than it is for 
him to describe the pleasure he has received from these 
honourable testimonies. 

" I have the honour in behalf of the deputies of the as- 
sociated loyalists in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and the lower 
counties on Delaware, by their particular direction, and be- 
ing fully authorised by them for that purpose, now to express 
to you the high sense they entertain of your political and 
military conduct during the late rebellion in America. They 
are at a loss whether most to admire your activity and gal- 
lantry in the field, or your generous and affectionate attach- 
ment to his Majesty's loyal subjects in America, and your 
unwearied exertions as well to promote their true interest, 
as to preserve and protect their property. 

" As they have with pleasure and satisfaction had frequent 
opportunities of seeing your arms crowned with success, so 
have they as often experienced the marks of your favour, 
attention and protection ; these acts have endeared you to 
them, and claim their warmest gratitude. 

" Your particular countenance to and zeal for the associ- 
ated loyalists, and your ready concurrence in the measures 
proposed for their relief, and kind solicitations in their be- 
half, have made an impression on their minds, words cannot 
express and time only can erase ; and they have exceed- 
ingly to regret that the opportunity was not afforded them 
of evincing to the world, under your command, the sincerity 
of their professions and their attachment to their sovereign. 

" They would deem themselves culpable if they did not 
take this opportunity to mention that your abhorrence of the 
26 



318 APPENDIX. 

pillage that too generally took place in this country, and the 
success that attended your vigilant exertions to prevent it, 
have marked your character, and insured to you the esteem 
of all orders and ranks of good men. 

" Your sudden and unexpected departure from America 
prevented their paying this tribute of respect to you person- 
ally, which they entreat you now to accept, and that you 
will be assured that under all changes and circumstances 
your name will be dear to them, and that their wishes and 
prayers will always be for your prosperity and happiness." 

"Huntingdon, July 1st, 1783. 

" When we reflect on your military conduct in the course 
of this war, we, in common with others acquainted with its 
occurrences, cannot withhold our admiration and respect. 
But, when you rise to our minds in the relation in which 
you stand with us, and we view you as our leader and com- 
panion, who not only has pointed out to us the road to mili- 
tary reputation, but has shared in common with us its dan- 
gers and hardships ; when we find, that the whole tenor of 
your conduct demonstrates the most friendly disposition and 
attachment to our interests, which, in a particular manner, 
you have evinced by your unremitted assiduity and zeal, in 
making known and preferring our pretensions to our Sove- 
reign, which has obtained for us the most gracious marks 
of his approbation, and the most honourable reward for our 
services : when these things recur to us, we feel our hearts 
warmed with the generous glow of gratitude and affection. 

" We cannot omit observing, with very particular satisfac- 
tion, that in the establishment of the corps the whole of the of- 
ficers are included, and in the ranks they respectively bore. 

" Wishing you every success in your public pursuits, and 
the most perfect domestic happiness, we have the honour to 
be, with the greatest regard, and most perfect esteem, 

"Yours, &c. &c." 
"Signed on behalf of the officers 

"of the regiment by " R. ARMSTRONG, Major, 

" JOHN SAUNDERS, Captain." 



APPENDIX. 319 



A FEW ADDITIONS ARE MADE TO THE AUTHOR S APPENDIX '. THE EXTRACTS HAVE AN 
INCREASED INTEREST IN CONNECTION WITH HIS JOURNAL. 



Page 18. The Queen's Rangers, fyc. fyc. 

Before the command of the Rangers was given to the 
author, the corps had distinguished itself in the service, and 
had attracted the attention of the Commander in Chief. In 
the Pennsylvania Ledger, newspaper, of December 3d, 1777, 
was printed the following notice : — - 

" No regiment in the army has gained more honour this 
campaign than Major Wemys's (or the Queen's) Rangers ; 
they have been engaged in every principal service, and be- 
haved nobly ; indeed most of the officers have been wound- 
ed since we took the field in Pennsylvania. General Knip- 
hausen, after the action of the 11th of September, at Bran- 
dywine, despatched an aid-de-camp to General Howe with 
an account of it : what he said concerning it was short, but 
to the purpose. Tell the General (says he) I must be silent 
as to the behaviour of the Rangers, for I even want words 
to express my own astonishment to give him an idea of it. 
The 13th the following appeared in orders : ' The Comman- 
der in Chief desires to convey to the officers and men of the 
Queen's Rangers his approbation and acknowledgment for 
their spirited and gallant behaviour in the engagement of 
the 11th instant, and to assure them how well he is satisfied 
with their distinguished conduct on that day. His Excel- 
lency only regrets their having suffered so much in the gal- 
lant execution of their duty.' " 

Page 103. Captain Saunders, patrolling towards Byram 
Bridge, SfC. fyc. 

The New York Commercial Advertiser of October 13th, 
1843, contained an article from which an extract may pro- 



320 APPENDIX. 

perly be here introduced. After quoting the paragraph on 
the 103d page, the writer, goes on : " Whether the imputa- 
tion upon the honour of Colonel Thomas, involved in this 
paragraph, is true or not, we cannot positively decide. Col. 
Simcoe, from the bitterness of his prejudices against the 
Whigs, would of course be disposed to present the case in 
its worst aspect. It is but just, however, to Col. S. to admit 
that we have discovered a piece of testimony going direct- 
ly to maintain what he has said in relation to the violation 
of his parole by Col. Thomas. 

" In rumaging one of our drawers of old manuscript col- 
lections, on Wednesday, we found a couple of sheets of very 
interesting reminiscences connected with the war of the 
revolution, in New York and its vicinity. Among other 
matters of curious import, it contains a particular account 
of the capture of Col. Thomas, of his detention on Long 
Island, and of his most extraordinary escape ; admitting, 
withal, that he did violate his parole. The good woman to 
whom he was in the main indebted for his safety, had pro- 
bably taken a lesson from the Jewish ' wench' who, under 
equally emergent circumstances, concealed the messengers 
conveying to David the state of affairs in Jerusalem, when 
the unhappy monarch was flying before the legions of his 
treacherous son. 

" We regret that we have forgotten to whom we are in- 
debted for this manuscript. If we do not mistake, however, 
it was handed to us two or three years since, by an elderly 
gentleman from Long Island. Be that as it may, it comes 
in very opportunely in connection with the revolutionary 
recollections revived by the narrative of Col. Simcoe." 

THE MANUSCRIPT. 

#*#*■##« Whenever the British army took 
possession of Long Island, the inhabitants were ordered to 
appear at Gen. Howe's head quarters, to take the oath of 



APPENDIX. 321 

allegiance. Many attended and were sworn, who received 
a certificate of protection, for which they had to pay a dou- 
ceur. They were then ordered to wear a red band or rag 
in their hat, as a badge of protection. Whenever it was 
discovered that a red badge afforded safety and protection 
to the person who wore it, every white man and negro, with 
all the boys in the country, mounted a red rag in their hats, 
which soon caused the abandonment of this badge of slave- 
ry. In the year '77, when the Americans had captured 
many Hessian and British prisoners, and could retaliate on 
them, for the cruelties which the Americans suffered, the 
British then relaxed in their severity towards the prisoners 
of the American army — the officers were removed from the 
prisons, and parolled to four of the towns of King's county, 
viz. to Flatbush, Flatlands, New Utrecht and Gravesend, 
where they were billeted on the inhabitants. After the pri- 
soner officers were quartered in those towns, the inhabitants 
enjoyed peace, preserved the produce of their labour, and 
became rich ; they also received payment for the board of 
the officers ; which many of them never deserved, for the 
contempt with which the prisoners were treated. The pri- 
soners were strictly forbidden to cross the ridge of hills, or 
to go to New York ; either was deemed a breach of parole. 
Several broke their parole undiscovered, but several were 
discovered and remanded to prison. Major Bowne sprang 
from the custody of the officer who was conducting him to 
New York, and escaped. Col. Thomas, of West Chester, 
also escaped from the officer ; his case, however, was mark- 
ed with extreme difficulty, but he succeeded to clear the 
British in the end. 

" This officer was surprised in his own house, in West 
Chester, at day break, by a detachment of dragoons. He 
had gone to his house in the evening, a spy brought the in- 
telligence to the British post, and a detachment of horse was 
immediately sent to seize him. His house was surrounded 
before he knew it, when he took his musket and shot a dm* 
26* 



322 APPENDIX. 

goon at his door ; he ran up stairs, stepped on a piazza, and 
sprang over the enemy who were below it ; leaped a fence 
and ran for a piece of woods. Thus the bird would have 
flown ; but one of the officers, who had a fleet horse, leaped 
the fence and took Thomas, by laying the flat of his sword 
gently on his head, when Thomas surrendered and was pa- 
rolled on Long Island. 

" After he had broken his parole, and escaped from the 
officer, he returned to New Lotts, where he remained in 
the woods secretly for several days, and received provisions 
from his fellow officers, until he got an opportunity to go to 
New York, where he joined a party of wood-cutters. Tho- 
mas was in disguise, and had permitted his beard to grow. 
The British knew he was in New York, and were searching 
for him with a negro who knew him well. They came to 
the house where he was with the wood-cutters. Thomas 
saw them from a window, when they came to the door, and 
went in bed ; when his face was uncovered, the negro saw 
him and said, that is not Thomas. 

" He then communicated his situation to Mr. John Frank- 
lyn, who provided a place for him in the house of a faithful 
•widow. The British suspected that he was concealed in 
this house, and a party was sent there also to search for 
him ; the widow was apprised of their coming, took Tho- 
mas down into the cellar, turned a hogshead over him, and 
then threw half a bushel of salt on the head of the tub, and 
left him. The house and cellar were searched, and Thomas 
escaped by the widow's stratagem. John Franklyn, Henry 
Ryker, and another person of New York known by No. one, 
kept a canoe concealed in the barn of No. one, near Green- 
wich, on the North river ; when a favourable opportunity 
occurred, Franklyn removed Thomas from the widow's 
house, and No. one conveyed him across the North river to 
Fort Lee, when he was safe '; thus Col. Thomas miraculous- 
ly escaped." 



APPENDIX. 323 

Pages 109 to 119. Li. Col Simcoe had information that fifty 
fiat-boats, upon carriages, fyc. fyc. 

The affair narrated in the Journal is told in Lee's Me- 
moirs of the War, &c. pages 192, 193, of the second edi- 
tion. Lee's account of the expedition, written in his usual 
happy manner, is preceded by a handsome compliment to 
Lieut. Col. Simcoe. The praise awarded to the British offi- 
cer deserves consideration, coming from the distinguished 
rebel and gallant young soldier commanding the American 
Legion, which was a corps similar in most points to Simcoe's, 
and which, in the defence of the cause of independence, no 
less distinguished itself. 

" This officer commanded a legionary corps called the 
Queen's Rangers, and had during the war signalised him- 
self upon various occasions. He was a man of letters, and 
like the Romans and Grecians, cultivated science amid the 
turmoil of camp. He was enterprising, resolute, and perse- 
vering ; weighing well his project before entered upon, and 
promptly seizing every advantage which offered in the 
course of execution. General Washington expecting a 
French fleet upon our coast in 1 779-80, and desirous of be- 
ing thoroughly prepared for moving upon New York, in 
case the combined force should warrant it, had made ready 
a number of boats, which were placed at Middlebrook, a 
small village up the Raritan river, above Brunswick. Sir 
Henry Clinton being informed of this preparation, determin- 
ed to destroy the boats. The enterprise was committed to 
Lt. Col. Simcoe. He crossed from New York to Elizabeth- 
town Point with his cavalry, and setting out after night, he 
reached Middlebrook undiscovered and unexpected. Hav- 
ing executed his object, he baffled all our efforts to intercept 
him on his return, by taking a circuitous route. Instead of 
turning towards Perth Amboy, which was supposed to be 
the most probable course, keeping the Raritan on his right, 



324 APPENDIX. 

he passed that river, taking the direction towards Monmouth 
county, leaving Brunswick some miles to his left. Here 
was stationed a body of militia, who being apprised (it be- 
ing now day) of the enemy's proximity, made a daring effort 
to stop him, but failed in the attempt. Simcoe, bringing up 
the rear, had his horse killed, by which accident he was 
made prisoner. The cavalry, deprived of their leader, con- 
tinued to press forward under the second in command, still 
holding the route to English town. As soon as the militia 
at Brunswick moved upon the enemy, an express was des- 
patched to Lt. Col. Lee, then posted in the neighbourhood 
of English town, waiting for the expected arrival of the 
French fleet, advising him of this extraordinary adventure. 

"The legion cavalry instantly advanced towards the 
British horse ; but notwithstanding the utmost diligence 
was used to gain the road leading to South Amboy (which 
now was plainly the object) before the enemy could reach 
it, the American cavalry did not effect it. Nevertheless the 
pursuit was continued, and the legion horse came up with 
the rear soon after a body of infantry sent over to South 
Amboy from Staten Island by Sir Henry Clinton to meet 
Simcoe, had joined, and gave safety to the harrassed and 
successful foe. 

" This enterprise was considered, by both armies, among 
the handsomest exploits of the war. Simcoe executed com- 
pletely his object, then deemed very important ; and tra- 
versed the country, from Elizabethtown Point to South Am- 
boy, fifty-five miles, in the course of the night and morning ; 
passing through a most hostile region of armed citizens ; 
necessarily skirting Brunswick, a military station ; proceed- 
ing not more than eight or nine miles from the legion of Lee, 
his last point of danger, and which became increased from 
the debilitated condition to which his troops were reduced 
by previous fatigue. What is very extraordinary, Lt. Col. 
Simcoe being obliged to feed once in the course of the night, 
stopped at a depot of forage collected for the Continental 



APPENDIX. 325 

army, assumed the character of Lee's cavalry, waked up 
the commissary about midnight, drew the customary allow- 
ance of forage, and gave the usual vouchers, signing the 
name of the legion Quarter-master, without being discover- 
ed by the American forage commissary or his assistants. 
The dress of both corps was the same, green coatees and 
leather breeches ; yet the success of the stratagem is as- 
tonishing." 

Page 158. General Arnold. 
Extract from Dunlap's History of New York. Vol. II. p. 201. 

" It appears strange, that Sir Henry Clinton should entrust 
a traitor with the lives and liberty of armies as he did. But 
I have been assured by a gentleman of the most unblemish- 
ed character, now far advanced in years, that when Arnold 
departed from New York in the command of the army with 
which he committed depredations in the Chesapeake, ' a 
dormant commission' was given to Colonels Dundas and 
Simcoe, jointly, by Sir Henry Clinton, authorising them, if 
they suspected Arnold of sinister intent, to supercede him, 
and put him in arrest. This proves that Clinton did not 
trust him, and we may reasonably suppose that such a 
watch was set upon his conduct on other occasions. 

" The gentleman who communicated this fact to me, was 
in his youth a confidential clerk in Sir Henry Clinton's office, 
and copied and delivered the dormant commission as direct- 
ed. This explains a passage in Clinton's letter to his gov- 
ernment, in which he says, * this detachment is under the 
command of General Arnold, with whom I have thought it 
right to send Colonels Dundas and Simcoe, as being officers 
of experience, and much in my confidence.' " 

Page 237. M. Fayette, in his public letters, fyc. fyc. 

Extract from Washington's Writings, edited by Jared 
Sparks. Vol. VIII. pp. 100, 101 — note. 



326 APPENDIX. 

" A retreat had been recently commenced by Lord Corn- 
wallis, after pursuing Lafayette to the interior of Virginia. 
Lafayette said : 

" * The enemy have been so kind as to retire before us. 
Twice I gave them a chance of fighting, (taking care not to 
engage farther than I pleased,) but they continued their re- 
trograde motion. Our number is, I think, exaggerated to 
them, and our seeming boldness confirms the opinion. I 
thought at first that Lord Cornwallis wanted to get me down 
as low as possible, and use the cavalry to advantage. But 
it appears he does not as yet come out, and our position will 
admit of partial affairs. His Lordship had (exclusive of 
the riflemen from Portsmouth, said to be six hundred,) four 
thousand men, eight hundred of whom were dragoons or 
mounted infantry. Our force is about equal to his ; but only 
fifteen hundred are regulars, and fifty dragoons. Our little 
action marks the retreat of the enemy. From the place, at 
which they first began to retreat, to Williamsburg, is up- 
wards of one hundred miles. His Lordship has done us no 
harm of any consequence. He has lost a very large part 
of his former conquests, and has not made any in this state. 
Gen. Greene demanded of me only to hold my ground in 
Virginia ; but the movements of Lord Cornwallis may an- 
swer better purposes than that in the military line.' — La- 
fayette's MS. Letter, June 28th. 

" In the following letter to the Governor of Virginia of the 
same date, Lafayette gives an account of the recent action : 

" ' Colonel Simcoe was so lucky as to avoid a part of the 
stroke ; but, although the whole of the light corps could not 
arrive in time, some of them did. Major Macpherson hav- 
ing taken up fifty light infantry behind fifty dragoons, over- 
took Simcoe, and, regardless of numbers, made an immedi- 
ate charge. He was supported by the riflemen, who be- 
haved most gallantly and did great execution. The alarm- 
guns were fired at Williamsburg (only six miles distant from 
the field.) A detachment just then going to Gloucester was 



APPENDIX. 327 

recalled, and the whole British army came out to save Sim- 
coe. They retired next morning, when our army got with- 
in striking distance. 

" ' Our loss is two captains, two lieutenants, ten privates 
wounded ; two lieutenants, one sergeant, six privates kill- 
ed ; one lieutenant, twelve privates, whose fate is not known; 
one sergeant taken. The enemy had about sixty killed, 
among whom are several officers, and about one hundred 
wounded. They acknowledge the action was smart, and 
Lord Cornwallis was heard to express himself vehemently 
upon the disproportion between his and our killed, which 
must be attributed to the great skill of our riflemen. This 
little success has given great satisfaction to the troops, and 
increased their ardour. I have put all the riflemen under 
Campbell. To-morrow I intend to reconnoitre a position 
below Byrd's Ordinary. Your return to Richmond, and this 
little affair, will particularly mark his Lordship's retreat, 
and the recovery of every part of the state not under naval 
protection.' — MS, Letter, June 28th" 

Page 254. The capitulation at York Town. 

Extract from " the general return of officers and privates 
surrendered prisoners of war, the 19th of October, 1781, to 
the allied army, under the command of General Washing- 
ton, taken from the original muster rolls :" — 

Queen's Rangers — 1 lieutenant-colonel, 1 major, 10 cap- 
tains, 15 lieutenants, 11 cornets, 3 quarter-masters, 2 sur- 
geons, 24 sergeants, 5 trumpeters, 248 rank and file — total 
320. 

Page xii. of Memoir of the Author. 

The reader will find in Stone's Life of Joseph Brant, (or 
Thayendanegea,) the Indian Chieftain, considerable discus- 
sion of Governor Simcoe's measures while in Upper Canada. 
There appears to have been an intimate friendship between 
the Chief and the Governor, the latter bringing from Eng- 



328 APPENDIX. 

land a letter of introduction to the former from the Duke of 
Northumberland. The annexed extract is from the book 
referred to, Vol. II. p. 337 : 

" The following is the letter, which the character of the 
parties and the circumstances of the case render worthy of 
preservation : 

« i Northumberland House, Sept. 3df, 1791. 
" * My Dear Joseph, 

" ' Colonel Simcoe, who is going out Governor of Upper 
Canada, is kind enough to promise to deliver this to you, 
with a brace of pistols which I desire you will keep for my 
sake. I must particularly recommend the Colonel to you and 
the nation. He is a most intimate friend of mine, and is 
possessed of every good quality which can recommend him 
to your friendship. He is brave, humane, sensible, and hon- 
est. You may safely rely upon whatever he says, for he 
will not deceive you. He loves and honours the Indians, 
whose noble sentiments so perfectly correspond with his 
own. He wishes to live upon the best terms with them, 
and, as Governor, will have it in his power to be of much 
service to them. In short, he is worthy to be a Mohawk. 
Love him at first for my sake, and you will soon come to 
love him for his own. 

" ' I was very glad to hear that you had received the rifle 
safe which I sent you, and hope it has proved useful to you. 
I preserve with great care your picture, which is hung up 
in the Duchess's own room. 

" * Continue to me your friendship and esteem, and be- 
lieve me ever to be, with the greatest truth, 

" * Your affectionate friend and brother, 

" * Northumberland, 
** ' Captain Joseph Brant, " ' Thorighwegeri. 

Thayendanegea.' " 



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